Rio Ferdinand urges Arsenal to re-sign 2017 Super Eagles invitee as Xhaka’s Replacement

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Arsenal should re-sign their former player Eberechi Eze as a replacement for Granit Xhaka.

The 2017 Super Eagles invitee was a schoolboy at Arsenal for approximately five years before he was released by the north London club in 2011.

Xhaka is enjoying his best season this campaign since moving to Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2016.

He has made 31 appearances in the Premier League, starting 30 of them and coming on as a substitute once, establishing himself as a vital player for Mikel Arteta’s side this season.

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The Switzerland international has also scored 5 goals and registered 5 assists for the Premier League table-toppers.
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With Xhaka on the wrong side of 30, Arsenal will start looking for a replacement soon and it has been suggested by Ferdinand that Eze would be able to step into the shoes of the former Gunners captain.
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“Smooth. If you’re talking about one of the smoothest ballers in the game, in the Premier League right now, Eze’s up there,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with FIVE podcast, via Metro.

“Mad player. He’s playing like he’s in the cage. Just smooth, man. He doesn’t seem fazed either. Every situation you put him in, he’s just calm.

“And he’s in that position where he turns and faces up midfielders or defenders. He can go past people, slip people in and finish.

‘He’s a player. Gareth Southgate, get him in there [the England squad]!

“I just want to see him get more goals and assists. He’s started to add some goals recently and hopefully he can continue in that vein.

“He’d be good at Arsenal, you know. In the [Granit] Xhaka position. In another year.”

Eze, who trained with the Super Eagles in 2017 before a canceled friendly against Burkina Faso, has recorded 7 goals in the current Premier League campaign for Crystal Palace, three of which have come in the last two matches.

He has also registered three assists this season, making a total of 10 goal contributions, which is the joint highest he has recorded in a single season since joining Crystal Palace