Arsenal legend hits back at claims Mikel Arteta made £67.5m transfer mistake | Football

Alan Smith has dismissed claims Arsenal made a mistake signing Eberechi Eze and insists he will have a ‘big part to play’ in the Gunners’ title bid.

Arsenal beat north London rivals Tottenham to a £67.5m deal for England forward Eze last summer.

Eze’s arrival at Arsenal, the club he supported growing up, was widely celebrated but the 27-year-old has made a subdued start to his career at the Emirates Stadium.

The Eagles hero scored just two goals in his first 15 appearances for Arsenal, one that came against League One basement boys Port Vale in the Carabao Cup.

It was hoped a rare north London derby hat-trick against his former suitors Spurs would kick-start Eze’s career but he has gone another eight games without a goal since that joyous 4-1 win.

Eze’s dip in form has cost him his place in Arsenal’s starting line-up and he did little to convince Arteta he should be starting in the 4-1 FA Cup win over Portsmouth on Sunday.

A subdued start to his Arsenal career even led former Manchester United defender Paul Parker to claim Mikel Arteta was wrong to sign Eze.

‘Eze was outstanding last season, I think he was the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League,’ Parker said last month.

‘I think that freedom has been taken away from him by Mikel Arteta since going to Arsenal. They bought him for what he was delivering and then when they got him, they’ve tried to get him to do something different.

‘It doesn’t make sense for that kind of money.’

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has also expressed concern for summer signing Eze, claiming he might not ‘get back in the team’ and has damaged his hopes of going to next summer’s World Cup.

But Gunners hero Smith has defended Arsenal’s transfer decision and says ‘really good player’ Eze will have a role to play as the club look to clinch their first league title since 2004.

Smith, who scored over 100 goals for the Gunners, also believes Eze’s arrival has ‘helped’ and ‘pushed’ captain Martin Odegaard to get back toh is best.

‘I still think Arsenal were right in signing him,’ Smith told Metro on behalf of BestBettingSites.co.uk. ‘I think he’s a really good player.

‘I think at times they’ve tried to get him and Odegaard in the same side, and it looked a bit awkward. But I actually think Eze coming has helped Odegaard. It’s pushed him on a bit, and he’s finding some better form.

‘But Eze, he’ll have a big part to play. He obviously got that hat-trick against Spurs, didn’t he, a few weeks back now.

‘He’s a great man to have in your squad and in your first 11 when he’s playing well. I don’t think there are any real concerns there.’

Arsenal, sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League, booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup with an emphatic victory over Championship side Portsmouth.

Smith believes Arsenal’s impressive form and significant spending last summer means they can afford not to dip into the January transfer window for reinforcements.

‘They’re so well covered,’ he added. ‘They’re one of the few sides that you’d say, no, they don’t need anything.

‘There’s always a possibility that you just go a bit far, and you’re overloaded with your squad, and you’ve got unhappy players.

‘They will have that as they move forward, those lads that aren’t playing. But no, I can’t think of a position that needs strengthening.’

Arsenal face London rivals Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night before returning to Premier League action next weekend against Nottingham Forest.

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