Mikel Arteta faces awkward Eberechi Eze chat as Arsenal dealt Premier League title race blow

Eberechi Eze didn’t show up to the party at the Gtech Community Stadium on Thursday night, forcing Mikel Arteta to make an early change

Eberechi Eze failed to impress – again – during Arsenal’s clash against Brentford. The 27-year-old midfielder was given his first start in the Premier League since December, and it didn’t take long before Mikel Arteta lost his patience.

Eze, whom the Gunners signed from Crystal Palace for £68million at the end of the summer transfer window, was hooked at half-time, coming off for Martin Odegaard. The England international had little to no positive impact on the game.

He didn’t record a single successful dribble, create any chances, complete a pass into the final third, or, at the very least, take a shot. Eze’s little contribution to the clash included one touch in the opposition box, two fouls drawn, two duels won, nine passes, and 17 touches.

Arteta hauled him off at the break, and it’s not the first time either. The Spaniard dragged Eze off midway through Arsenal’s defeat to Aston Villa back in December – their first in the Premier League since August.

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When quizzed on the change after the game, Arteta confirmed it was a tactical decision. He said: “Because with the way that they were pressing, I think we needed another kind of profile to generate many more problems for them around those areas.

“I think [Odegaard] came on in the pitch really well and the team had another gear and more threat to arrive to the areas that we wanted to do and that’s the decision.”

On whether he’s worried by the lack of impact that Eze has had on the pitch since joining Arsenal, Arteta said: “Well I think he had moments and it’s not easy when you move to a new club.

“It’s always like this and when you play against a team that is like this and the ball is a lot of times not on the floor and you have to be constantly breaking the play and do that, especially for attacking and creative players, it’s more difficult.”

Arteta now faces an awkward chat with Eze at the Sobha Realty Training Centre as they seek a remedy to his poor performances. The Arsenal flop was expected to steal the limelight at the Gtech Community Stadium on Thursday night and finally stake a claim for a place in the starting lineup.

But he squandered the ‘big opportunity’, and the Gunners surrendered crucial ground in the title race. Manchester City are now just four points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League following their win over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of the game, Martin Keown urged Eze to ‘join the party’. The Gunners legend said: “I want to see creativity in that final third. We know that it’s there.

“He was taken out of the team for a while after things went wrong at Aston Villa. That side of the game, having to defend, I feel, is in his game now.

“He’s shown the right attitude, and I’m hearing great things about him around the football club. Now, he’s got to do it on the pitch as it’s all there waiting to come out.

“It’s a great opportunity for him to do it. Martin Odegaard is back on the bench as he’s been injured a little while. Kai Havertz came in front of him, but he’s a confident young man.

“Tonight is a big opportunity for him as he tends to be a spectator when he’s out wide. He can control things tonight from a central position.”

Keown added: “Eze, it’s time to join the party now. You pay that kind of money, you get quality, and this is just the opportunity for him.”

Eze did not, in fact, join the party. Meanwhile, Peter Crouch said: “He started really well and got the hat-trick in the North London derby. Arsenal fans will never forget that, but I do prefer him in the central role.

“I don’t think you can get both him and Odegaard in the same team. Quite often, he’s been shoved out on the left, and I don’t think it suits him. He likes to come inside in that free role on the ball.

“Tonight, with [Martin] Zubimendi and [Declan] Rice behind him, he has the licence to go out and enjoy his football, and I feel this is where he’s at his best.”

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