If Arsenal could have called on any player to break out of Manchester City's tactical vice at Wembley, then Eberechi Eze would have been one of the top candidates.
As soon as Man City cut off the passing lane to Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice, neither were creative enough to find a solution. That's simply not their biggest strength. Instead, Mikel Arteta needed a differential. A player less rigid with license to roam. That would have been Eze if he were fit.
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Now, following the news that the England international will miss several weeks through a calf injury, Arsenal must find a replacement after the international break.
Why Eze could have changed the result at Wembley
It was a slow, painful death for Arteta's side at Wembley. The student, as it turns out, still had one more lesson to learn from his teacher as Pep Guardiola showcased his tactical genius.
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The Man City boss was well aware of Arsenal's weakness in open play. He knew that, if you stop Zubimendi and Rice, you stop the supply line. He also knew that, if the Gunners decided to play over Man City's high block, Viktor Gyokeres wouldn't win the battle against Abdukodir Khusanov.
With the Swede failing to make the ball stick, the game also passed Kai Havertz by. With one, four-man high block, City stopped possession reaching the feet of Rice, Zubimendi and Havertz, who also rarely progress play through take-ons. If the pass wasn't on, then that was always likely to stop those three.
Stats Dribbles Chances created
Rice vs Man City 0 2
Zubimendi vs Man City 0 1
Havertz vs Man City 0 0
Eze per 90 in 25/26 1.38 0.78
The big problem for Arsenal is that Man City just provided the blueprint. If Arteta fails to replace Eze before he returns from what could be a month-long calf injury, then there could be some devastating consequences.
How Arsenal can replace Eze
If the Gunners are looking for a bold creative spark, then they should look no further than Max Dowman.
The record-breaking 16-year-old has done what Bukayo Saka has failed to do in recent months. With one star boy beginning to look as leggy as a veteran, it's time for Hale End's Saka repeat to steal the show.
It took the teenager less than 20 minutes to change the game against Everton, forcing Jordan Pickford into a mistake with his cross before racing through on goal to become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
Arsenal are at risk of cramping up at the final hurdle in the race to seal history. The warning signs were there against Man City in an abject attacking display.
An "unstoppable" force in the words of Arsenal academy expert, Will Balsam, Dowman is everything that Havertz, Saka and Leandro Trossard were not at Wembley. Everything that Eze would have been, had he not suffered an ill-timed injury.
Against Everton, the Hale End graduate created two chances, completed two dribbles, and made four recoveries in just 16 minutes of action. It was an all-action Saka-like performance in the final third, full of sparkle, full of creativity.
Youngest goalscorers in Premier League history (Dowman, Vaughan timeless)
Even as his attacking influence made a difference, his defensive work did not become an issue and that should be Arteta's biggest sign that Dowman is ready. Starting his young star would no longer be at the sacrifice for his robust style out of possession.
Although the champions-elect must first overcome Southampton and Sporting Club in the FA Cup and Champions League, it's on their Premier League return against Bournemouth that Dowman should be tested.
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The Cherries are one of the few sides in the bottom half that could replicate Man City's Wembley tactic. Andoni Iraola's side rarely sit deep and have the attacking calibre to commit to a high block and like Man City, that will leave space if Arsenal manage to get out.
They failed to do exactly that without Eze in the Carabao Cup final and cannot run the risk of a repeat when the Premier League returns to action. Dowman will be pivotal.
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