David Ornstein’s exciting Arsenal transfer update is bad news for Eze

The lottery of penalties, eh? Arsenal were a spot kick away from winning the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Alas, they will have to go again, buoyed on by a first Premier League title in 22 years. A continental trophy will have to wait after a two decade period since their last major European showpiece appearance.

Kai Havertz made himself an early hero just six minutes in but three moments, one from Cristhian Mosquera, one from Eberechi Eze and another from Gabriel Magalhaes decided the game. All three moments were penalties. All three moments were heartbreaking.

After scoring that early goal, Mikel Arteta’s game plan worked a treat but they were ultimately left wanting, left wondering what might have been.

This performance typified everything about Arsenal this season. They were exceptional at the back but missing star power in attack.

While only a substitute, Eze will take the brunt of the blame for his missed penalty but he also did not do enough with fresh legs to influence things.

Why Eze should be worried for his place next season

Stutter penalties never look great. You look cool and composed if you stick it away but miss, and your whole technique is called into question.

The way in which Eze missed his penalty was awful, but it was not the first time. He missed as Crystal Palace won the Community Shield last August.

Former teammate Tyrick Mitchell was clipped after the game telling him to switch things up. Well, he should have listened. Call us old fashioned but there’s nothing better than just running up to the ball and striking it with all of your might. Eze did not do that.

It is hard to pin the blame on the Englishman alone. He played a vital hand in winning the Premier League and his story, from being released by Arsenal as a boy to returning as a big-money signing last summer is the stuff of fairytales.

Yet, for a £67m signing, you would expect more. No one will ever forget his hat-trick in the north London derby but there were simply too many occasions where Eze failed to influence a game.

He endured barren spells on the goals front this season. The 27-year-old did not score in his first six league games then failed to find the net in the top-flight between the end of November and the end of February.

At times, the England international has looked incredible, yet on too many occasions he’s coasted through games without having done an awful lot.

The same can be said of his Champions League final cameo. It begs the debate, particularly with Martin Odegaard’s form, of whether Arsenal need to sign an upgrade in that area of the field.

Well, if reports are accurate, they could well be preparing to do exactly that.

Arsenal planning to sign new forwards

After losing the final on Saturday, Arteta did not mince his words, issuing a rallying cry to the hierarchy to provide him with big funds heading into the summer to improve the squad.

Talking to reporters the Spaniard commented: “We start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level. And we’re going to have to show that ambition. We are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand us to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”

So, the latest words from David Ornstein should be music to the ears of supporters. Speaking on an appearance on TNT Sports’ coverage of the final, the reporter said: “They know the need to improve at the top end. They are behind statistically the likes of PSG and Bayern Munich. The left-sided attack is a big priority for them and they’ve been looking at it for a few years and I think this may be the summer where they do go for it. They want a 6, 8 midfielder. They want to strengthen at right-back too.”

Based on those comments, it will be interesting to see what moves Arsenal are able to complete. In the 6 position, they have been rumoured to be after Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali but after selling Anthony Gordon for big money, their pressure to sell other players have been relinquished a bit.

On the left, they could well welcome the likes of Bradley Barcola from PSG or even Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. The latest on that is, according to reports, they have held talks with the player’s representatives.

Rogers is a player capable of playing in that 8 role, as a 10 or on the left side of the attack. If that move, in particular, went through then Eze would no doubt be fretting.

After all, the Villa superstar is certainly the better player judging by recent campaigns. Potentially set to start ahead of Jude Bellingham for England at the World Cup, Rogers has been setting the Premier League and European football alight with his performances since becoming a Villan.

The youngster won the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season and has scored 14 goals in back to back seasons now. He registered 16 assists in 2024/25 and 12 this term.

If he is the left sided winger Arsenal are after, supporters should be delighted. He’s a proven Premier League assset who would improve the ceiling of this squad.