Arsenal will delay Eberechi Eze’s medical with the club until Friday to allow the midfielder to participate in Crystal Palace’s opening Conference League fixture against Norwegian side Fredrikstad on Thursday evening.
The Gunners swooped in to pip bitter rivals Tottenham to the 27-year-old’s signature on Wednesday, after he looked destined to end up on the white half of north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side had been in the running for the former Queens Park Rangers creator earlier in the window, but deals for Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, and Noni Madueke became a priority, paving the way for Thomas Frank’s side to pounce.
This became especially crucial for the Lilywhites after their midfield spark and vice-captain James Maddison suffered an ACL tear in a pre-match friendly against Newcastle, effectively ending his season before it had even started.
James Maddison left the field on a stretcher with his head in his hands a during pre-season friendly against Newcastle | GETTYSpurs negotiated with Palace, having gotten the green light from Eze, and had total agreement by Tuesday, although the Eagles insisted he remained available for their Conference League curtain-raiser on Thursday.
But another injury, that of Kai Havertz who will also face an extended period on the sidelines, meant it was the Gunners’ turn to re-hijack the deal.
They returned to the table with intent on Wednesday, and quickly concluded agreements with both the club and player.
Palace's insistence that Eze remained available for Thursday evening gave Arsenal the time required to secure the deal and book in a medical, ripping up the agreement Eze had with Frank’s side.
Arsenal have hijacked Spurs' deal with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Eberechi Eze
| REUTERSThe disappointment for Spurs marks the second time they have fallen short of a significant coup this summer, having previously missed out on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
Frank’s side were said to have agreed on personal terms with the 25-year-old, but Forest rejected their approach, despite Spurs’ compliance with his release clause, and claimed they had illegally discussed with the player prior to agreeing a deal with the club.
The England international penned a new three-year contract extension at the Forest Ground instead. Gibbs-White is even said to have personally called Frank to apologise for the ordeal.
For Arsenal, Palace have remained insistent: Eze must be available for their first Conference League game.
The importance of this game is that, despite being controversially demoted from the Europa League earlier this month due to an adjudged breach of multi-club ownership rules, the south London club haven’t actually qualified for the tournament yet.
Thursday evening’s fixture against Fredrikstad marks the final round of qualification. In Palace’s mind, if they can keep Eze on the books for the home leg and gain a significant advantage to take to the away tie (next week), that can effectively secure their qualification to the competition in full.
Eberechi Eze saw his early free-kick disallowed by VAR against Chelsea on Sunday
| GETTYArsenal have agreed to the stipulation, booking Eze’s medical for Friday and allowing him to play, risking an injury, in Thursday’s fixture at Selhurst Park.
On Wednesday, discussing the situation surrounding Eze and club captain Marc Guehi, who has been subject to interest from Liverpool this summer, boss Oliver Glasner said: “They will play a crucial part for as long as they're here.”
The timing proves poignant, with the Premier League witnessing other want-away talismen, Yoanne Wissa and Alexander Isak, refusing to train, never mind play.
Eze, on the other hand, has received great credence for his attitude to remain available without kicking up a fuss.
The midfielder appeared to wave an emotional goodbye to the adorning Palace fans at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, where he saw his thunderous free kick controversially disallowed by VAR.
But with Arsenal scheduling the medical on Friday instead of Thursday, Eze will get the chance to give the fans a proper farewell at Selhurst Park, as he embarks on the next stage of his career.