Newcastle United FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League
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Arsenal’s performance at Nottingham Forest on Sunday has been picked apart since, but few had a tougher afternoon than one player in particular.
Eberechi Eze was handed his first Premier League start of the season on the left wing, only to be taken off at half-time. His replacement, Noni Madueke, went on to score the winner, and Mikel Arteta explained afterwards that he “wanted something else” from that side of the pitch.
Joe Cole says Eberechi Eze needs to ‘do more’
Eze has found it tough to nail down a place since his £65million move from Crystal Palace, and Joe Cole believes there’s only one way for him to change that.
Speaking on the Dressing Room Podcast, Cole compared his situation to that of Martin Odegaard. “Odegaard got a lot of grace last year because of what he’s done for the club in the past, but he wasn’t at the levels,” he said. “And I think Odegaard has come in and just hit the ground running.
“So I think this is life at a big club. If you’re going to play number 10 for Arsenal, you’ve got to be doing it better than anyone else in the league, because they’re there pushing each other.
“I’ve been in this situation. You need to keep your composure, keep going, keep training well. Then when you get the opportunity, do more.”
It’s not the first time Eze has been hooked at the break. The same thing happened at Villa Park last December, and after that he had to wait two months for his next Premier League start.
Eze has shown what he can do when he gets the chance. Only last week, he started on the left against Lille and scored his first goal of the season. But with Madueke staking his claim out wide and Odegaard back to his best in the middle, Eze’s chances may be limited for now. When they do come, he’ll know he has to take them.