Arsenal-bound Eberechi Eze has apparently arrived at the Gunners' London Colney training ground as he prepares to complete his £67.5m switch from Crystal Palace.
The three-time Premier League winners havepulled off a sensational hijack of Tottenham Hotspur's proposed move for the 27-year-old, although Mikel Arteta was quintessentially tight-lipped in Friday's press conference.
"There's nothing to comment on, I can never talk about anything that's not part of our group or club yet," Arteta replied, but not without a smile and a few chuckles.
The Spaniard will seemingly not be able to keep the secret for much longer, as Sky Sports News reports that Eze has pitched up at Arsenal's training ground to complete the formalities of his move from Selhurst Park.
Eze opted for Arsenal over Spurs owing to his emotional connection to the club, having represented the Gunners at youth level before being released, and Palace boss Oliver Glasner also confirmed on Friday that he had said his goodbyes to his Palace teammates.
Shirt numbers Eze could take at Arsenal ahead of Palace transfer
Eberechi Eze on May 20, 2025
As Palace's creator-in-chief, Eze has unsurprisingly sported the number 10 shirt for the Eagles over the past four seasons, and that jersey is ready and waiting for him at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal were without a number 10 - in the shirt sense - last season following the exit of its previous incumbent, Emile Smith Rowe, in the summer of 2024, and it would be a shock to see Eze bestowed with any other number.
The former Queens Park Rangers youngster would follow in the footsteps of iconic playmakers in Mesut Ozil and Dennis Bergkamp by sporting the '10', which has also been donned by Robin van Persie, Jack Wilshere, Paul Merson and Charlie George down the years.
However, if for any reason Eze does not take the number 10 shirt, he could go back to the number 25 - which was his first jersey at Palace - or take the '18' vacated by Takehiro Tomiyasu's contract termination earlier this summer.
Eze has also worn the number 15 shirt for England at senior level - a potential option at Arsenal if Jakub Kiwior leaves - but when the official photos are released, the former Queens Park Rangers starlet will surely be showing off his new 10 jersey; this time in red and white.
Arteta gives triple Arsenal injury update before Leeds United game
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on August 17, 2025
Eze would have had to have been signed before 12pm on Friday in order to be eligible for Saturday's Premier League fixture with Leeds United, so the playmaker will not be making his debut for the Gunners just yet; instead, a first appearance could come his way against Liverpool next Sunday.
Also absent from Saturday's game will be Kai Havertz owing to his new knee injury, but Arteta could not clarify the severity of his concern, adding: "He's certainly not fit for this match.
"Unfortunately, he picked up an injury. We don’t really know yet the extent of it, I think we need a bit more time and some more tests, and after that we will have more clarity about the next steps."
On Ben White and Christian Norgaard - who have been nursing knocks this week - Arteta replied: "Christian won't be in the squad. With Ben, let's see how he reacts and what we decide. Christian will be out for another week or so."
Arsenal are bidding to stretch their unbeaten run against Leeds to 15 matches in all competitions on Saturday, having not lost to the Whites since a 3-2 Highbury defeat in the 2002-03 campaign, which ended their Premier League title hopes.
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