Mikel Arteta has orchestrated a brilliant season so far for Arsenal. They could not have asked for a better position to be in at this point in the season. They are well and truly on course to win the Premier League after multiple heartbreaks over the years. Furthermore, their position in the Champions League is also extremely strong. Moving on, manager Mikel Arteta has provided a positive update on one of Arsenal’s star players. It is the kind of update that would truly put a smile on any Arsenal fan’s face. Mikel Arteta has suggested that Eberechi Eze will receive more minutes on the pitch moving forward in the season. This message from Arteta has come following questions asked regarding the lack of minutes provided to Eze so far this season.
Mikel Arteta and Eze this season
Eberechi Eze made the move to Arsenal in late August last year. This was following a sensational season that Eze had with Crystal Palace last season. He scored 14 goals and assisted 12 times for Palace. Eze was one of the best players in the league last season, consequently urging Arsenal to splash the cash on the England international. After the blockbuster move, Eze has had a quiet season so far. With 5 goals and 3 assists, the goal contributions have not been swashbuckling. However, Eze had one of the performances of the season against North London rivals Tottenham. In the heated derby, Eze scored a sensational hat-trick in a 4-0 victory for Arsenal. Immediately in the next game, in a bigger stage against an even bigger opposition, Eze came up clutch once again. It was a Champions League fixture against German giants Bayern Munich. Eze famously scored in an emphatic 3-1 victory for the Gunners. It became one of the most memorable nights in recent years for Arsenal.
However, since then, Eze’s season has lacked any kind of spice. Mikel Arteta continued playing him after the Bayern win. But the former Palace star failed to continue his great run of form. Eze started the next three games after the Bayern win, but failed to perform in all three.
Mikel Arteta on Eze
After disappointing returns during that three-game run, Arteta has since benched Eze completely. He has not had too many opportunities, whereas Arsenal have been flying without him. That has consequently given Eze no space to return to the team again. Martinelli and Trossard have been competing for that left side attacking spot, and both of them have been doing a great job. That has further made it difficult for Eze to break into the team. When asked about Eze and his lack of minutes in the presser, Mikel Arteta gave a detailed answer regarding the attacker he calls “exceptional.”
“The way he trains every day, the way he wants it, the way he wants to make everything that it takes to change my mind and give him more minutes. He’s been phenomenal and that’s not easy. It’s easy to expect it but with the level of players that we are talking, that’s not easy and I’m very confident that we’re going to see a great version of Ebz in the recent (coming) months,” Arteta said.
Conclusion
Eberiche Eze’s lack of minutes in this Arsenal side simply shows the strength of their squad. Yes, he has been disappointing since the Bayern win. However, his lack of minutes is not completely because of that. It is mostly because of the fact that there is so much competition in the squad, and there are so many players contributing so well. But Arteta has assured Eze will receive more minutes going forward in the season, which will definitely excite the Arsenal faithful.
As featured on GoonerNews.com