Eberechi Eze’s sizzling form down to SAUNA sessions as Mikel Merino backs ‘massive signing’ to lead title charge

EBERECHI EZE got Spurs steaming mad with a hat-trick in the north London derby.

Yet team-mate Mikel Merino has never had any doubts over the forward even though he had proved to be a slow burner until scoring a hat-trick in Sunday’s 4-1 win over .

Eberechi Eze stole the headlines with a North London Derby hat-trickCredit: Getty Mikel Merino likes what Eze has brought to the Arsenal dressing roomCredit: Getty

And Merino always knew Eze would be a solid club comrade off the pitch due to their wide-ranging chats in the SAUNA before training each day.

Until his stunning performance against Spurs, Eze had managed just one Premier League goal and two assists after leaving .

Makeshift striker Merino, preparing for Wednesday’s Champions League home game with , said: “Everyone judges players in terms of goals and assists.

“But as football players, we knew that he had been providing the team with a lot of quality.

“From training, we knew how good he is. So yes, the goals came against Tottenham but we knew he is an unbelievable player and that we were really, really lucky to have him.

“He can play in different positions and adapt to different styles. It was a massive signing for Arsenal.

“It says a lot when you see that Crystal Palace fans still love him. He is really kind – a lovely guy. You can talk to him about everything. He is funny.

“At the same time, he is calm and it is lovely to have him in the dressing room.

“He is very confident and also every morning, we sit in a sauna at the training ground and we can have a really good talk about everything. He is just a nice guy and already, he is well integrated within the team.

“I think he is a complete player. He can dribble, he can pass the ball.

“In Spain, we are born and we are raised with this talent of playing with each other, passing the ball and connecting and he does that. He is an amazing signing.”

Eze was hardly Mikel Arteta’s only summer signing with the club splurging over £250m on new stars.

Fellow new arrival Piero Hincapie delivered an impressive full Premier League debut against Spurs in the absence of the injured defender Gabriel Magalhaes and will continue against Bayern.

Martin Zubimendi has proved to be an excellent capture while Noni Madueke – signed from Chelsea – returned from a spell on the sidelines against Spurs.

Viktor Gyokeres has been out with a hamstring and hopes to return soon.

Merino said: “We have signed so many players who can be a difference. But you can see many other teams that have made big, big transfers as well.

“Even though individuals can win games, the main thing is the team and if you have very good individuals who do not stick together, that is a problem. The main thing is that everyone thinks about the team first.

“I have been talking about it for a long time now. Competition is high. A lot of quality is in the squad. This is what the gaffer wanted to have many players available with the best quality possible.

“It is tough for him to make decisions over who is playing and who is not playing but at the same time, at every training session, we are pushing each other and everyone is getting the benefit.”

Merino and Eze have become good pals at ArsenalCredit: Getty