The circumstances of Eze’s arrival at the Emirates were unique, with Spurs knocking on the door and Kai Havertz’s injury forcing the issue, but Sunday’s hat-trick felt like the moment he truly announced himself.
We know Mikel Arteta has spent years carefully building a formidable team centred on defensive solidity, but the attacking magic has often felt lacking.
This was the summer where Arsenal were meant to take the leap in the forward area, and Eze looks to be the key difference maker.
He’s a maverick among a reliable foundation.
The likes of Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino were excellent against Spurs, and have been for some time, providing consistent output, constant availability and filling their roles perfectly.
They’re a manager’s dream week in, week out, but the unpredictable brilliance of Eze could be what takes Arsenal over the hill this season.
In the creative midfield position, Arsenal have lacked a player who can strike the ball well off both feet, generate a high volume of shots, and pop up with game-winning moments out of nothing.
Martin Ødegaard has been fantastic in that role for many years, but there’s an extra dimension that Eze can offer in certain moments.
What’s most exciting is it doesn’t need to be a case of one or the other.
Mikel Arteta can play two creative midfielders, Eze off the left, or mix and match throughout games depending on what the situation calls for.
Eze’s had his standout moment, every Arsenal fan’s dream, and now it’s his place to lose, but that only adds another option and another selection headache for the manager when Ødegaard does return.
It’s yet another showcase of Arsenal’s impressive depth, just as Pierro Hincapié demonstrated filling in so seamlessly for Gabriel.
The flexibility throughout the squad is the best Arsenal have had in a very long time, and with the rest of the attacking cavalry on the road to recovery, the Gunners could go up another level still.
Next in the Premier League, Arsenal face second-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
London rivals, in top form, it’ll be another big test.