'I'm going to have to leave' – Eberechi Eze move raises worry for Arsenal weeks after deal

Exciting Arsenal talent Ethan Nwaneri could find himself compelled to leave the club due to the arrival of Eberechi Eze, according to Troy Deeney.

The suggestion comes just weeks after the teen put pen to paper on a new deal at the Emirates Stadium. It has been a hectic summer of departures and arrivals at Arsenal, who have also tied several current players to new contracts, including promising attacker Nwaneri.

He created history in 2022 when he became the club's youngest-ever player to feature for the senior side at just 15 years and 181 days old.

The club confirmed earlier this month that the now 18-year-old, who has been with the Gunners since he was eight, had committed to a new "long-term contract".

Nwaneri was understood to seek guarantees regarding playing time before pledging his future to the club, and he will naturally have been anticipating increased first-team chances in the new campaign.

However, Nwaneri – who registered 37 outings across all competitions last term – was an unused substitute in last weekend's 1-0 win at Manchester United.

He now faces even tougher competition for a spot in the team from both established stars and fresh signings, as Arsenal pursue the Premier League crown and other silverware.

Eze is now set to join striker Viktor Gyokeres, defender Cristhian Mosquera, midfielder Martin Zubimendi, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, midfielder Christian Norgaard and forward Noni Madueke in completing the move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Former Watford and Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney has suggested that Nwaneri may need to seek a new one, given the recent attacking additions.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Deeney said: "If I'm Ethan Nwaneri, I'm 17 years old and I've been told I'm going to be playing more and then I don't play against Manchester United [he was an unused substitute]... as older people, we know that wasn't really the game for him.

"But as a 17-year-old [you're thinking], 'You've told me I'm going to be playing, now I'm not playing. You've brought an additional winger in, Leandro Trossard's signed a new deal, now you're bringing Eze in, who plays exactly in my place, I'm going to have to leave.'

"They are the kind of conflicts that come up. He's only 17, but he wants to play."

Deeney questioned Arsenal's pursuit of Eze, who was close to joining Tottenham before the Gunners agreed a £67.5million deal for the Crystal Palace attacker. He added: "I like the move for the player, [but] I don't get it, personally.

"If he goes in at Spurs, he can go in as a number 10, which he wants to do. If they still want to put him out on the left, he's still the best left winger they'd have out there.

"With Arsenal, if he wants to play as a 10, they've got to drop [Martin] Odegaard, who's the captain and Arteta loves him. He hasn't dropped him even when he wasn't [in good form]."

However, the imminent signing of Eze is a clear signal of Arsenal's ambition as they strive to clinch the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. Mikel Arteta is also keen to break his trophy-less run, which dates back to the 2020 FA Cup.

"We are showing the ambition that we are here to win major trophies and to keep evolving and improving every single year and that comes with demands and those demands are clear," said Arteta.

"We want to be in front in the league, not just chasing or reacting or being behind, but in front of it and every decision that we make in every area of the club is to achieve that."

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