Arsenal Delays Eberechi Eze’s Medical to Allow Conference League Participation
Arsenal has decided to postpone Eberechi Eze’s medical examination until Friday, enabling the talented midfielder to play in Crystal Palace’s inaugural Conference League match against Norwegian team Fredrikstad this Thursday evening. The Gunners made a strategic move on Wednesday to secure the 27-year-old’s signature, beating out their rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who had initially seemed poised to sign the player.
Mikel Arteta’s squad had previously shown interest in Eze during the transfer window. However, their focus shifted to other targets, including Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke. This shift opened the door for Brentford’s Thomas Frank to make a late bid for Eze, particularly after Spurs faced a setback with the injury of vice-captain James Maddison, who suffered an ACL tear during a friendly against Newcastle, sidelining him for the entire season.
Despite initial agreements between Spurs and Palace, the Eagles insisted that Eze remain available for their key Conference League match on Thursday. However, the Gunners seized the opportunity, especially after another injury to Kai Havertz, who will also face a lengthy recovery. Arsenal quickly moved back to the negotiating table on Wednesday, finalizing terms with both the player and the club.
Crystal Palace’s insistence on Eze participating in the Thursday match provided Arsenal with the necessary time to complete the transfer and arrange for his medical appointment, effectively nullifying the agreement previously in place with Frank’s side.
This turn of events marks the second significant disappointment for Tottenham this summer, having also missed out on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. The player had reportedly agreed to personal terms with Spurs, only for Forest to reject the offer, citing illegal discussions before formal agreement.
For Crystal Palace, Eze’s availability for the Conference League is crucial. Despite being controversially demoted from the Europa League earlier this month due to alleged breaches of multi-club ownership rules, they still have not qualified for the tournament. Thursday’s clash against Fredrikstad is vital, as a strong performance could secure their spot in the competition.
Arsenal has accepted the stipulation to delay Eze’s medical, allowing him to play in Thursday’s match at Selhurst Park. Manager Oliver Glasner highlighted the importance of Eze and club captain Marc Guehi, who has attracted interest from Liverpool, stating their roles will be pivotal as long as they remain with the club.
Eze, who showed great professionalism amid transfer speculation, bid an emotional farewell to Palace fans at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, where his stunning free-kick was controversially disallowed by VAR. Now, with his medical scheduled for Friday, Eze will have the opportunity to properly say goodbye to the Selhurst Park faithful before embarking on the next chapter of his career with Arsenal.
Stay tuned for updates on Eberechi Eze’s transfer and his impact at Arsenal!
