Mikel Arteta reveals tactic Eberechi Eze used to sign for Arsenal ahead of Tottenham

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed reports that Eberechi Eze phoned him to engineer a move to Arsenal instead of Tottenham, saying it "showed how much he wanted to come".

Eze's huge U-turn was the story of the week as he looked nailed on to join Arsenal's rivals Tottenham after Thomas Frank's outfit agreed a £60million fee with Crystal Palace for the England star.

But Arsenal dramatically entered the race at the last minute, pulling the rug from underneath Spurs as Eze was always going to prefer a move to the Emirates as a boyhood Gunners fan.

Arteta, however, backed up claimed that Eze was in fact the one pushing for a move to Arsenal by personally phoning him asking to join the team.

Speaking after his side's 5-0 thrashing of Leeds, Arteta was asked about the rumours that Eze called him and replied: "That shows you how much he wanted to come.

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"It's very different sometimes because you want to be very open and transparent with the players as they have to make decisions in their careers but I'm delighted to have him. I can tell how much it means to him and his whole family."

Spurs had pinned their hopes on Eze after a long-term injury suffered by James Maddison left them without a recognised No 10 and the club will now move their focus elsewhere.

Eze has broken his silence on the move as he penned a heartfelt message to Palace fans thanking them for helping him realise his dream of playing in the Premier League.

"Five years, man. Crazy. It feels like just yesterday I was walking through the doors joining from QPR. The day you gave me the chance to realise my dream of playing in the Premier League, For South London’s biggest club. The love you have all shown me, the way you have all supported me, and how we’ve stood together no matter what, these are things that will live in my heart forever.

"Wembley, man. That whole journey. Words aren’t enough to describe what we all experienced that day so I’m not gunna try, but what I will say is that God did something for us that will connect us for generations. The most special day of my career because God gave us what no one thought was possible for us!

"So after all of this, all I really want to say is thank you. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for giving me a chance, and thank you for the love shared that will last a lifetime. Up the Palace. God Bless, Ebz."

Eze's first opportunity to play for Arsenal will come in a massive game for Arsenal as they travel to title rivals Liverpool next Sunday.

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