Mikel Arteta's admission on Eberechi Eze transfer speaks volumes after Tottenham snub

Arsenal have confirmed the £67.5million capture of Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze. The England international has penned an initial four-year contract which also contains a one-year extension option.

Mikel Arteta said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring Eberechi to Arsenal. He is a powerful and exciting player who will give us a new dimension in our attacking game.

"What stands out just as much as his talent and intelligence as a player, is the way he has worked hard throughout his career to get where he is today.

"His journey, his mentality, and his ambition are exactly what we want in our team, and we love how much it means to him and his family to be joining our club. We all look forward to starting working with Eberechi soon.”

Eze - who snubbed north London rivals Tottenham to make the move to the Gunners - was presented to the Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium on the pitch before Saturday evening's Premier League clash with Leeds.

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The £67.5million package represents a club-record sale for Crystal Palace. He is the Gunners' seventh summer signing and the club's spending has now surpassed a record £260m.

The 27-year-old will wear the No.10 shirt in north London having previously been released by Arsenal as a 13-year-old.

Sporting director Andrea Berta, who played a fundamental role in executing the transfer alongside Tim Lewis, added: “We are so pleased to have completed this deal to bring Eberechi to Arsenal. Eberechi is a creative and explosive talent with huge technical quality – also a big-game player, with his experience at international level with England also underlining his quality and character.

"There has been excellent teamwork across the club to make this transfer happen and we are very confident Eberechi will be an important addition to our squad as we continue to build for success.”

Palace released a statement thanking Eze for his services to the club. Chairman Steve Parish said: “Throughout five years here, Eberechi has been an incredible presence, having had a huge impact on Crystal Palace Football Club and been an inspiration for the people of South London.

"Eberechi's journey is truly incredible: from being released from multiple clubs, to scoring the Cup final-winning goal, and helping bring the club its first major trophy in 164 years, he is a huge inspiration and role model.

"Just as importantly, and no less inspirationally, Ebs is a great person, always positive, always a positive presence, and humble in his dealings with everyone, regularly giving his time to the club's charity and other philanthropy. He epitomises everything good about the modern footballer.

“We, as a club, will always hold Ebs in our hearts and wish him all the success for the future. He will always be welcome back at Selhurst Park.”

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