We are showing ambition — Mikel Arteta excited for new season amid Eberechi Eze transfer

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted that the Gunners' boss imminent £60m signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace is not a panicked response to Kai Havertz’s knee injury, which will sideline the German for Saturday’s Premier League match against Leeds at the Emirates.

The extent of Havertz’s absence remains uncertain, but reports suggest his injury hastened Arsenal’s pursuit of Eze, pushing their summer spending to a staggering £250m.

Eze, who underwent a medical on Friday, could finalize his move this weekend, having been left out of Palace’s 1-0 Conference League play-off win over Fredrikstad.

“Obviously we were very active trying to look at the possibilities that could come. We are not reacting to anything, we’ve been very prepared and understanding what we could do and we have decided this is the moment to do it.”

Eze joins high-profile signings like Viktor Gyökeres (£55m), Cristhian Mosquera (£13m), Martin Zubimendi (£60m), Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m), Christian Norgaard (£10m), and Noni Madueke (£48.5m).

Arteta highlighted Arsenal’s ambition to end a 22-year Premier League title drought, stating,

“We are showing the ambition that we are here to win major trophies and to keep evolving and improving every single year and that comes with demands and those demands are clear.

"The goal is to be in front in the league, not just chasing or reacting or being behind, but in front of it and every decision that we make in every area of the club is to achieve that.”