Eze, the key man at Arsenal after Trossard and Martinelli's departure

Eberechi Eze has now established himself as one of Arsenal’s most crucial offensive players following a summer transfer window that drastically reduced Mikel Arteta’s left-wing options. Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus have all left the club, depriving the Gunners of three experienced attackers capable of playing in multiple positions. Arsenal did sign Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge but failed to secure another specialist winger before the transfer window closed. As a result, Eze faces a far greater responsibility than he did during last season’s title-winning campaign.

A central role on the left for Eze

Martinelli’s departure is particularly symbolic, as he had been Arsenal’s natural left-wing option for years. Trossard provided a reliable solution, while Jesus could drift wide when needed. With all three gone, Arteta is likely to deploy Eze regularly on the left flank, even though his natural game often sees him drift into central spaces behind the striker. Last season proved why Arsenal can trust him with more responsibility: according to Opta Analyst, Eze made 32 Premier League appearances in 2025-26, including 21 starts, scoring 7 goals and providing 2 assists in 1,817 minutes. These are respectable figures for a player who wasn’t always an automatic starter. This season, however, the expectations will be far higher. Tzolis is now Arsenal’s only obvious specialist left winger, meaning Eze could become Arteta’s go-to option in case of rest, injury, or positional rotation. Arsenal took a gamble this summer by selling Martinelli, Trossard, and Jesus, significantly reducing their offensive depth. While the club may have strengthened other areas, it is undeniably thinner on the wings. Eze must now transition from a useful rotational player to a key decisive figure. His technical qualities suit this role: he can dribble past defenders, progress under pressure, and cut inside to combine with Martin Ødegaard and the central striker. Against low-block defenses, his unpredictability could even make Arsenal less predictable on the left wing.

A major challenge for Eze

The main question mark remains over his offensive output. Seven league goals last season were handy, but Arsenal may now expect a dozen, along with a significant increase on his previous season’s two assists. Tzolis cannot be expected to shoulder an entire flank alone. That is why Eze’s fitness, consistency and adaptability will be crucial. The club is banking on him to fill the void left by the departure of three offensive stalwarts, but the challenge is steep: turning a promising season into a collective top-tier performance. Arsenal has therefore gone all-in this summer, and the coming season could well hinge on Eze’s shoulders. If the Greek attacking midfielder rises to the challenge, he could become the Gunners’ golden boy. If not, the club’s risky gamble may backfire.