Two ways Arsenal can line-up with Eberechi Eze after record-breaking transfer overhaul

Mikel Arteta will be hoping Eberechi Eze is the final piece of his puzzle having overseen a record breaking Arsenal transfer window.

The Gunners have confirmed the signing of the 27-year-old from Crystal Palace for an initial £60million – plus £7.5m in potential add-ons.

Eze had looked set to join Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hospur having been identified as Thomas Frank’s number one target.

But Arsenal hijacked the deal at the 11th hour, with the versatile attacking midfielder only having eyes on an emotional return to his boyhood club.

Eze joined the club’s academy as an eight-year-old, before he was released aged 13 – leading to him crying in his room for a week.

But those tears of sadness have turned to tears of joy having sealed a dream move back to Arsenal to become their seventh signing of the summer.

Eze, who has been handed the No. 10 shirt, also got to bask in the adulation of the Gunners faithful as he was paraded around the Emirates Stadium prior to Arsenal’s 5-0 mauling of Leeds United on Saturday.

His arrival at London Colney means that Arsenal have now eclipsed the £208.6m (including add-ons) they spent during the 2023 summer window – their previous record haul on incomings.

Who have Arsenal signed this summer?

Arsenal have now splashed out £276.2m, with Eze being their biggest signing when taking potential add-ons into consideration.

The north London outfit forked out an initial £55m plus £8.7m in add-ons to Sporting Lisbon to secure the services of Viktor Gyokeres.

Martin Zubimendi cost £55m from Real Sociedad, with Noni Madueke linking up from Chelsea in a deal rising to £52m.

Cristhian Mosquera was also snapped up in a package deal worth around £18m from Valencia, with Arsenal agreeing an initial £10m plus £5m in add-ons to sign Christian Norgaard from Brentford.

And Arsenal also paid Chelsea £5m to sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Following what has been a hectic summer at the Emirates, confidence is growing amongst Gooners that this could be the season where they finally win a first Premier League title since 2004.

Arsenal have finished in second spot in their last three campaigns, and they will be hoping their new additions will finally get them over the line having addressed their key concerns in terms of specific positions and squad depth.

But there are question marks remaining as to how Eze will fit into Arteta‘s side and where he will play.

With that in mind, talkSPORT.com has taken a look at the two ways in which Eze could slot into the line-up.

How will Arsenal line-up in the 2025/26 season?

With back-to-back Premier League Golden Glove awards in his trophy cabinet, David Raya is almost certain to deputise between the sticks as the first choice.

A centre-back pairing will see William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes continue their formidable partnership, with Arteta likely to rotate in full-back positions.

Despite left-back Riccardo Calafiori and right-back Ben White starting in the opening day win at Manchester United, Arteta could revert back to his favoured backline from last season, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurien Timber slotting in instead.

Moving into the middle of the pitch, and Martin Zubimendi will be the No.6 going forward, though Eze may find it hard to slot in as one of Arsenal’s box-to-box midfielders.

While Eze often plays as an attacking midfielder, he is unlikely to start ahead of skipper Martin Odegaard.

And club-record signing Declan Rice is regarded as unstoppable by Arteta, meaning Eze will only get in front of the duo in midfield if one of the two is injured, struggling for form or it being a rotation strategy.

Eze is more likely to feature on the left wing ahead of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, who have been plagued by inconsistent performances in the last year.

Bukayo Saka will keep his place on the opposite flank, with Gyokeres to spearhead the attack as he aims to silence his critics who have claimed he will not be a prolific goalscorer in England’s top-flight.

Such is Arsenal’s incredible depth now, Arteta has the luxury in being able to make several changes to his line-up.

The full-back positions will likely be rotated throughout the season, while Norgaard would be more than an adequate stand-in for Zubimendi.

A change in midfield could see Eze feature in a free-roaming role ahead of Odegaard, with Kai Havertz to potentially play as a No.8 once he recovers from injury.

With Saka likely to be given rest at certain points to keep him fresh, Madueke is the obvious candidate to replace him.

Should Eze get minutes in midfield, Martinelli would then step back into the team at left wing, with Gyokeres to keep his position up top.