Arsenal players (left), Martin Odegaard (left), Wayne Rooney (inset) - all pics GETTY
Arsenal players (left), Martin Odegaard (left), Wayne Rooney (inset) - all pics GETTY
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney reckons Eberechi Eze is Arsenal's best No. 10, ahead of captain Martin Odegaard. Eze starred for the Gunners in their 4-1 Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday (February 22).
The £67.5 million summer arrival from Crystal Palace bagged a brace as the Gunners ruled the roost in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, completing a league double over their north London rivals.
“I think just around the penalty box, Eze is a better player, and then a little bit deeper, Odegaard is a better player than Eze,” Rooney told BBC Sport (via Arsenal Insider).
Rooney also had words of praise for Odegaard, who returned from injury in the Spurs game and assisted Viktor Gyokeres' second of the night, but explained why he would go with Eze at No. 10:
“I think Odegaard is a very clever player, and he picks up some great positions. His movement is very good. You just want to see a little bit more from him in the final third.
"So if you can combine the two of them into one, then you have a great player. I think they are different players for that role. But yeah, for me, I would play Eze over Odegaard."
Coming on for Eze late against Spurs, Odegaard provided a reminder of his qualities by delivering a goal contribution as the Gunners returned to winning ways in the league following successive draws at Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Overall, this season, Eze has scored seven times and provided three assists in 37 games across competitions, with five of those strikes coming in two games against Tottenham. Meanwhile, Odegaard has one goal and seven assists in 27 outings across competitions this campaign.
"It's worked out today" - Arsenal star Eberechi Eze after Tottenham win
Arsenal attacker Eberechi Eze
Arsenal attacker Eberechi Eze
Arsenal attacker Eberechi Eze sounded happy with his two-goal effort in the Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, sending the Gunners five points clear at the top, having played a game more.
Having not scored or assisted in 11 league outings since scoring a hat-trick in the 4-1 league win at Tottenham in November, Eze commended his team for returning to winning ways, telling Sky Sports (via the BBC):
"Today it's worked out, we thank God for it. We put in a good performance. We did what we needed to do today, which was the main thing.
"I'm always trying to get in those positions to be ready and to find the space and to work hard to get those opportunities," he said about his own performance. "It takes a lot to get there, and it's worked out today."
Eze and Co. next take on Chelsea at home in the league on Sunday (March 1) as they look to win the competition for the first time since their historic 'Invincibles' triumph 22 years ago.