Walcott Warns Eze: Stay at Palace for World Cup Dream

Arsenal Arsenal warned over Eberechi Eze transfer risk amid Tottenham talks Eberechi Eze is a player Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are both credited with an interest in signing from Crystal Palace before this summer transfer window ends footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Arsenal By Matthew Abbott 16:32, 13 AUG 2025 Bookmark Eberechi Eze has a huge decision to make about his future this summer (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images) Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Theo Walcott has encouraged Eberechi Eze to factor in the World Cup next summer before moving during this transfer window . Walcott , a club ambassador for Arsenal , joined the Gunners six months before the 2006 World Cup, a tournament the then-teenager was surprisingly part of. Eze, in contrast, has been a regular in England squads since debuting two years ago, receiving 13 caps. In the Three Lions' most recent match, a friendly against Senegal, he played a full 90 minutes for the first time. Walcott, however, believes the World Cup "is a big factor for a lot of players this year." Appearing on episode 43 of It's Called Soccer , the show's host, Rebecca Lowe, asked Walcott about Eze's future. "If I'm Eze, for instance, my thought process is Arsenal is a different kind of pressure," he said. This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here "There is the pressure of them challenging for the title, that Mikel [Arteta] needs to win something this year. So, being a player that will help the squad, of course, he will, he's an absolutely gifted player; he will help the squad, but will he help himself? "The good thing about Eze's situation is that he can play every week and has that maverick style that he accepts, making and taking those risks. I think he's a player who can take those risks at Palace. I don't think he will get that at Arsenal. "If he has a good season at Palace, he will go to the World Cup, I'm pretty sure of that, then what other teams will have a look at him after that? So I think, if I were Eze, I would probably stay put just because it wasn't a World Cup year; if it wasn't a World Cup year, I would move on.' Walcott concluded: "I love the way Eze plays at Palace at this moment in time, and it would look very different at Arsenal. But he would improve Arsenal, 100 per cent, I just feel the World Cup year is a big factor for a lot of players this year." KICK OFF - Arsenal F.C. pre-season guide 2025/26 The countdown is on to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign - and our pre-season guide is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead. As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory - or simply survival in the toughest league in the world! Also full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season. Get your copy NOW Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Arsenal transfer news Arsenal transfer rumours Crystal Palace transfer news Ebere Eze Spurs transfer news Summer Transfer Window Theo Walcott Tottenham transfer rumours

Eberechi Eze has a huge decision to make about his future this summer (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)

Theo Walcott has encouraged Eberechi Eze to factor in the World Cup next summer before moving during this transfer window .

Walcott , a club ambassador for Arsenal , joined the Gunners six months before the 2006 World Cup, a tournament the then-teenager was surprisingly part of. Eze, in contrast, has been a regular in England squads since debuting two years ago, receiving 13 caps.

In the Three Lions' most recent match, a friendly against Senegal, he played a full 90 minutes for the first time. Walcott, however, believes the World Cup "is a big factor for a lot of players this year."

Appearing on episode 43 of It's Called Soccer , the show's host, Rebecca Lowe, asked Walcott about Eze's future. "If I'm Eze, for instance, my thought process is Arsenal is a different kind of pressure," he said.

"There is the pressure of them challenging for the title, that Mikel [Arteta] needs to win something this year. So, being a player that will help the squad, of course, he will, he's an absolutely gifted player; he will help the squad, but will he help himself?

"The good thing about Eze's situation is that he can play every week and has that maverick style that he accepts, making and taking those risks. I think he's a player who can take those risks at Palace. I don't think he will get that at Arsenal.

"If he has a good season at Palace, he will go to the World Cup, I'm pretty sure of that, then what other teams will have a look at him after that? So I think, if I were Eze, I would probably stay put just because it wasn't a World Cup year; if it wasn't a World Cup year, I would move on.'

Walcott concluded: "I love the way Eze plays at Palace at this moment in time, and it would look very different at Arsenal. But he would improve Arsenal, 100 per cent, I just feel the World Cup year is a big factor for a lot of players this year."