Eze’s Arsenal Dream Hits a Rough Patch Amidst Title Race Pressure
Eberechi Eze’s name is etched in the annals of north London football folklore for his sensational hat-trick against Tottenham. While adding to his medal collection at the end of the season would undoubtedly be a welcome bonus, his much-anticipated move to Arsenal appears to have veered off its intended course. Since that memorable treble in November, Eze has struggled to find the back of the net. His recent Premier League start, the first in nearly two months, saw him largely anonymous, substituted at halftime against Brentford.
This pattern of early withdrawals is becoming a concerning trend. In his previous league start, he was replaced after just 57 minutes against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Before that, at Aston Villa, he didn’t even make it to the interval. At a crucial juncture in Arsenal’s title challenge, with key midfielders like Kai Havertz sidelined through injury and Martin Odegaard grappling with fitness issues, Eze has become a peripheral figure. This dip in form comes at a time when his creative spark is most needed.
The implications of his current form extend beyond Arsenal. At 27, this should be a pivotal World Cup year for Eze. However, his rhythm and form seem to have deserted him, and he faces stiff competition for a place in what is arguably the most competitive area of the England squad. The race to play in behind Harry Kane is fierce, with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers currently leading the charge. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Morgan Gibbs-White are also vying for similar roles. While Eze can operate effectively from the left flank, a position he excelled in at Crystal Palace, other talented players can also fill that void. Manager Gareth Southgate reportedly favours the blistering pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon in wider attacking roles. Consequently, the bright light that Eze once shone on English football is in danger of dimming.
Arsenal’s encounter with Brentford proved to be a gruelling affair, and within that struggle, the team found it difficult to get their number 10 involved in dangerous areas of the pitch during the first half. The lack of consistent service was compounded by the fact that Viktor Gyokeres, the team’s target man, was effectively neutralised by Brentford’s centre-halves, Sepp van den Berg and Kristoffer Ajer. A centre-forward capable of holding up the ball might have provided a better link to Eze, allowing him to receive possession facing goal. Furthermore, it’s possible that Eze himself wasn’t at his sharpest for this particular fixture.
Having been used sparingly in recent weeks, it appears that a lack of consistent game time has taken a toll on his confidence. He currently appears to be a shadow of the player who captivated English football last season, sparking a scramble for his signature. In the match against Brentford, Eze managed a mere 17 touches, with only one of those occurring within the opposition’s penalty area. Ten of his touches were in his own half, a testament to how far back he was forced in search of the ball as halftime loomed.
He did not return for the second half, and Brentford deserve significant credit for forcing that substitution. Their relentless industry and well-drilled organisation were evident throughout the match. Eze, with his undeniable talent, is always a threat, and Brentford’s players were quick to press him, often with Mathias Jensen crowding out his creative space. Eze, however, looked bereft of confidence, appearing unsure of how or where to impact the game within Mikel Arteta’s meticulously structured system, or against opponents adept at dropping deep, stifling his influence, and launching direct counter-attacks.
Arteta’s Perspective and Odegaard’s Impact
Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the challenges faced. “It’s not easy when you move to a new club,” he stated. “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.”
Martin Odegaard was brought on as a substitute to replace Eze and immediately injected a greater sense of urgency into Arsenal’s play. “We needed another kind of profile to generate many more problems,” Arteta explained. “He came on and did really well, and the team had another gear and more threat to arrive to the areas we wanted.”
Odegaard registered 23 touches and Arsenal visibly played at a quicker tempo for a period. All but two of his touches were in Brentford’s half. Operating to the right of a midfield trio, he attempted to combine with Noni Madueke and Jurrien Timber, seeking to create overloads around the edges of the penalty area. He managed a shot over the bar before his influence also began to wane.
Arsenal’s captain is also noticeably lacking in match sharpness, having been sidelined himself. He was visibly affected when attempting in vain to prevent Keane Lewis-Potter’s equaliser and appeared to be running on fumes by the final whistle as Brentford finished the stronger side.
The Need for Eze’s Magic and Tactical Adaptations
The reality for Arsenal is that they desperately need some of Eze’s magic during these critical final stages of the season. With Kai Havertz out injured and most opponents likely to adopt a deep defensive block, Eze’s ability to unlock stubborn defences is precisely what the team requires.
Last spring, Eze found his stride for Crystal Palace, netting nine goals in 13 appearances during the latter part of the season, including the decisive winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Under Oliver Glasner, he was deployed effectively within a system built for counter-attacking football, capitalising on space created by the quick passing of Adam Wharton and the presence of a target man like Jean-Phillipe Mateta. At Palace, Eze often operated from the left, not burdened by excessive defensive duties, allowing him to drift into pockets of space and threaten the opposition goal.
Arteta, however, demands a different skillset from his wide players. He expects them to be quick, industrious, and willing to sprint in behind opposition defences while also contributing defensively to protect the full-backs. This demanding tactical approach does not seem to suit Eze’s current disposition. The beaming smile and the free-spirited flair that illuminated London football at the end of last season appear to be absent. Arsenal would greatly benefit from finding a way to reignite that spark. Perhaps the upcoming North London derby will provide the catalyst.
