Eberechi Eze has made an instant impression on Mikel Arteta during his first week at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
We announced the signing of the England international on Saturday, and straight away he joined training in preparation for Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.
Discussing his integration, our manager said in Friday’s pre-match press conference: “I’m really impressed with him. I heard a lot of things about him. I spoke to a lot of people about him. He’s really bright, has very special energy and a special aura around him. He’s really willing.
“He’s already gathered a lot of information on the things that we want to see on the pitch. But especially, making sure that he has the freedom and the capacity to express his quality, which is the reason why we brought him here.
“I think when you are next to him, you are comfortable. He’s got a big smile. He asks you the right questions. And then just let him flow with that ball and the ability he has to pick passes, to drive past people effortlessly and just to understand the timing of things, very impressive.
“We have a lot of players now that can play in different positions and they can fulfil gaps when we have them. And looking at the start of the season that we already have had with injuries, that’s going to be very necessary. So I’m very happy to have the ability to do that.”
Read more Every word from Arteta’s pre-Liverpool presser
Asked if Eze will go straight into the starting line-up for the weekend’s game at Anfield, Arteta remained tight lipped.
“We have options in that position and that’s a good thing that we have this year,” he said. “So let’s see. I’m not going to give you any clues obviously.”
Our manager was also asked if Eze reminds him of some of his own former teammates, namely Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky.
“Yeah, they have a different feel of the ball,” he explained. “Everything glides and moves so smoothly. They are beautiful to watch, the way they carry the ball, the way they take touches, the way they turn. Ebere for sure has got this talent.”
So what could it look like when we have Eze linking up with fellow summer signing Viktor Gyokeres?
“We have to add players that add value to things that can define football matches,” Arteta said. “And those two, they have the ability at the end to make the final action in many ways. To finish with the ball in the back of the net, which is the outcome that we want in every action that we have in our attacking phase. Those two, they’re going to add these individual actions, magic moments, and that’s what we need to win games.”
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