Jamie Redknapp is excited to see what Eberechi Eze can bring to Arsenal and believes Martin Odegaard may be a little worried for his place despite his status as captain.
Eze was given an incredible reception as he was presented to the Emirates crowd ahead of Arsenalโs rampant 5-0 victory over Leeds in the clubโs first home game of the Premier League season.
Tottenham had looked to have wrapped up an agreement for Eze before Arsenal hijacked Spursโ deal at the 11th hour, with the England international joining for a fee of ยฃ67.5million to become the Gunnersโ seventh signing of the summer.
Eze has put pen to paper on a four-year contract, with the option of a fifth year, and will take over the No.10 shirt, most recently worn by Emile Smith Rowe.
There remains some uncertainty as to where exactly Eze could slot into Mikel Artetaโs starting XI given the 27-year-old can operate on the left flank or more centrally as a traditional No.10 โ which is where he played for Palace last term.
Odegaard currently occupies that role at Arsenal and has made the position his own across his four-and-a-half year stay in north London.
But on the back of a somewhat disappointing campaign for Odegaard last season, Redknapp feels the Arsenal skipper could be fearing for his spot โ and the Norwegianโs shoulder injury against Leeds may well open up an opportunity for Eze.
Looking ahead to Arsenalโs trip to champions Liverpool next weekend, Redknapp said in his post-match analysis (via Metro): โIt just shows you the importance of signing Eze because, right now, they need him and I wouldnโt be surprised if he starts at Anfield.
โIf you think about it, [Noni] Madueke will probably go back out onto the right.
โEze is going to be brilliant there and the No.10 shirt just feels right on him.
โHe played No.10 at Palace and it just feels like he deserves this. He did such a great job at Palace and this is now his big opportunity and heโs got unfinished business.โ
According to Redknapp, Eze could pose a โproblemโ and potentially take Odegaardโs place should he force his way into Artetaโs starting lineup over the coming weeks.
โHeโs a fantastic player, heโs played for his country,โ the ex-Liverpool, Tottenham and England midfielder added.
โHe is going to flourish there and I would like to see him in the positions where he is able to make things happen.
โI feel, right now, that the one player who would be under a little bit of pressureโฆ and if I thought two years ago that Iโd be saying this, I would have thought I was crazyโฆ but I think the captain will be looking, thinking, โHe might be a problem for meโ, because if he gets in then it might be hard for Odegaard to take back his place.โ
