Ian Wright believes that "God" intervened to help Arsenal snatch Eberechi Eze from Tottenham as the former Crystal Palace star pivoted to join the Gunners at the 11th hour. In a transfer twist straight out of a football fairytale, Wright declared that it was nothing short of divine intervention that led Eze to north Londonās red half instead of joining bitter rivals Tottenham.
Wright hails Ezeās Arsenal switch as divineHavertz's injury opened the transfer doorFamily joy as ex-Gunner returns to ArsenalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! š¢š±WHAT HAPPENED?
Spurs had looked certain to capture the Crystal Palace talismanĀ after sealing terms with the Eagles last week. The move was all but finalised until Arsenal stormed into the deal at the last possible moment. The sudden shift was triggered by Kai Havertzās knee injury in Arsenalās opening weekend victory over Manchester United. The setback forced Mikel Arteta and his staff to rethink their attacking options,Ā sparking an urgent move for Eze.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
For Tottenham, the timing was brutal. After weeks of negotiations, their new star-in-waiting appeared as though he was snatched away overnight. However, Ezeās ties to Arsenal run deep. Once a teenager in their academy system, he was released at 13 and spent years fighting his way back up the football ladder. Now, at 27, he has returned to the Emirates as a ready-made Premier League star.
WHAT WRIGHT SAID
Wright told the show: āIt [Eze to Spurs] was done. Heās very God fearing. I know a lot of people will turn round and go, āHere we go,ā but they genuinely believe itās happened because itās meant to happen. Thatās why, when he walked out of the tunnel, he could feel it, he couldnāt believe it had happened.ā
The emotional weight of the transfer, Wright said, extends far beyond Eze alone.
āThe whole family are Arsenal. You can imagine what his family are going through, [thinking] āHeās going to playing for Tottenham.ā," he said. "The pure happiness and joy of him being there [at Arsenal], you just feel like itās going to work out for him. I want it to work out for him simply for that reason. Itās where he wants to be. Itās very rare you get where you want to be at the level heās at. He got thrown out of there [Arsenal] at 13 and came back.ā
Getty Images/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR EZE?
Eze will not have to wait long for his first true test in Arsenal colours. His debut could arrive in one of the Premier Leagueās fiercest battlegrounds: Anfield, when the Gunners face Liverpool on August 31.