Arteta Welcomes Eze But Worried By ‘significant’ Saka Injury And Ødegaard Blow

Mikel Arteta said Eberechi Eze had called him connected Wednesday arsenic he considered whether to motion for Tottenham to cheque if location mightiness still beryllium a way to Arsenal for him.

“Yes, that shows you really overmuch he wanted to come,” Arteta said, arsenic he reflected connected nan last twist to a saga that saw Arsenal enactment connected their longstanding liking successful Eze to gazump Spurs. “It’s very difficult sometimes because you want to beryllium very transparent and unfastened pinch nan players. They person to make decisions that are very important.”

Spurs had agreed a interest pinch Crystal Palace for Eze but Arsenal stole successful to get him for £60m positive £7.5m successful add-ons. They had held nan precocious manus complete Spurs each summertime successful that Eze ever preferred to spell to them, having supported them arsenic a kid and played for their academy betwixt nan ages of 8 and 13. But Arteta suggested it was melodramatic and “one of nan fastest” transfers successful nan end.

Eze was presented to nan Emirates Stadium crowd earlier Saturday’s 5-0 triumph complete Leeds, which featured an assured debut from nan 15-year-old midfielder Max Dowman, who came connected arsenic a 64th-minute substitute, but was marred by injuries to Martin Ødegaard (shoulder) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring).

“I deliberation he [Eze] has nan capacity to create these magic moments,” Arteta said. “He’s sewage that flair, that charisma that is very contagious. We cognize he tin play arsenic an attacking midfielder, correct aliases left. He doesn’t care. He plays shifted disconnected nan left, arsenic well. I’m judge we will find nan correct spot for him.”

Saka’s wounded appeared to beryllium much superior than that of nan skipper and nan timing is bad, pinch Arsenal going to Liverpool adjacent Sunday. “For Bukayo to travel off, for judge it looks for illustration thing that is significant,” Arteta said. “He felt thing successful his hamstring while he was sprinting. That’s ne'er a bully sign.

“It’s not nan aforesaid [hamstring] arsenic nan erstwhile wounded [Saka missed 3 months of past play pinch a hamstring injury]. But he’s had these injuries before. He knows precisely nan emotion of that. So let’s wait. Martin felt thing successful his enarthrosis erstwhile he landed. We’ll person to scan him tomorrow and understand a spot better.”

Arteta watched Dowman triumph nan punishment for nan 5th goal, which was converted by Viktor Gyökeres, who had earlier made it 3-0 – his first goals for Arsenal. The defender Jurriën Timber besides scored twice. Saka sewage nan different one.

“Max has zero hesitation,” Arteta said. “He’s truthful convinced that he tin spell astatine 15 and present that, which I’ve ne'er witnessed successful my life. For us, it brings joy, it brings emotion and thing other that makes our jobs truthful great.”