Eberechi Eze has spoken about the influence of Mikel Arteta following his high-profile move to Arsenal last summer.
The attacking midfielder completed a transfer from Crystal Palace in a deal that could rise to £67.5 million.
Arsenal had tracked the England international earlier in the window but only made their decisive approach in the closing weeks, at a stage when he appeared close to joining Tottenham Hotspur.
In the end, the Gunners moved quickly to secure his signature ahead of their north London rivals.
Speaking in an interview with Men in Blazers, Eze explained that a previous conversation with Arteta played a key role in his decision to make the switch.
“I spoke to him previously, so I already knew the type of character he was, and it was very cool.
“So I knew that’s the type of conversation I could have.
“He’s an honest guy, he’s straight, he says it how it is.
“If I’m honest, I wasn’t too nervous,” the former Crystal Palace man said in quotes revealed by the Standard UK.
The 27-year-old revealed he already understood the Arsenal manager’s personality before negotiations intensified, describing Arteta as direct, honest and easy to speak with, qualities that made the transfer process feel natural.
After arriving at the Emirates Stadium, Eze quickly became a regular presence in the Arsenal squad. His standout early moment came in November when he produced a hat-trick in the North London derby victory over Tottenham, underlining his attacking impact.
However, with the reverse fixture approaching, his place in the starting lineup is less certain. Eze has struggled for consistent minutes in the Premier League since the festive period, raising questions about his role heading into the decisive phase of the season.
That uncertainty was evident in midweek when Arteta opted not to start him in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite the absence of key attacking options such as Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz.
Even so, Eze’s comments highlight the importance of Arteta’s personal approach, a factor that ultimately convinced him to choose Arsenal and one that could still shape his long-term future at the club.
