Eze Is A Title-Winner, But Spurs Are A Threat, Says Dixon

Former Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon believes Eberechi Eze “could push Arsenal over the line” in their Premier League title bid but has warned the Gunners that he might be more inclined to join their derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur. In fact, Tottenham’s push has been accelerated by the crushing news that James Maddison will miss most of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

WHAT HAPPENED?
The fight for Eze has burst into life this week, with the two north London giants going head-to-head in a high-stakes battle. However, with their main playmaker sidelined, Spurs are in hot pursuit as they view Eze as the perfect spark to replace Maddison.

THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite spending much of the summer chasing Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke, Arsenal have kept Eze firmly on their radar. Mikel Arteta’s side have finished runners-up three seasons in a row, and there’s a growing sense at the Emirates that one more injection of creativity could turn second place into first. The stumbling block is that the Gunners need to clear out fringe players to free up the funds for a bid.

WHAT DIXON SAID
Speaking to10bet, Dixon has made his stance crystal clear: “It’s always better to have too many top players than not enough, it’s a nice problem for any manager to have. We’ve seen over the last few years that we’ve just fallen short a little bit in the important parts of the season. Having a player like Eze in your squad might be able to change that a little bit, having someone who is a bit unpredictable and can produce moments of inspiration.

“It only takes a couple of flashes of genius, and that turns games that Arsenal drew last season into wins. He’s definitely a player that gives you something different to what you have. For Arsenal, it’s about how you improve because finishing second three years on the trot has people questioning your quality. We’re very, very close to being able to win the Premier League title, and maybe Eze could offer that little bit extra that pushes you over the line or gives you an extra five or six points come the end of the season. ”

DID YOU KNOW?
While Dixon backs the red side of north London, he admits Eze might see more guaranteed minutes in Lilywhite. Tottenham’s squad lacks the same depth as Arsenal’s, meaning the England international could become a week-in, week-out starter under Thomas Frank. That’s a tempting proposition for any player looking to impress Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

“There’s obviously only one choice! But, from his point of view, he probably knows that he’ll have a better chance of playing every week at Tottenham than he would at Arsenal simply because Arsenal’s squad is better,” Dixon explained.

“At Arsenal, he may have to accept more of a squad role. He;s another one that has the ability to play in multiple areas, and that is what he would have to do at Arsenal. I could see him operating off the left, off the right and centrally, but Arsenal have quality players that can play in those areas and he’d be competing with them to get in the team. He’d back himself to get in the team. With the amount of games Arsenal will play, he’d play a lot of football, but he wouldn’t start every week. There’s definitely a place for him at Arsenal, that’s for sure.”

WHAT NEXT?
Tottenham aren’t stopping at Eze. The north Londoners are also working on a deal for Manchester City’s highly-rated Brazilian winger Savinho. However, neither Savinho nor Eze will tarrive before Spurs kick off their Premier League campaign away at Burnley this Saturday.

Goal.com