Eberechi Eze played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg to seal their place at Wembley but opportunities have been fleeting of late
Eberechi Eze applauds the Arsenal fans after their win over Chelsea
Eberechi Eze applauds the Arsenal fans after their win over Chelsea(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Eberechi Eze spoke with such passion and pride after helping Arsenal reach Wembley. This was back to the wide-eyed Arsenal fan, wearing the huge grin and absolutely glowing about living the dream.
Eze started, completed the game against Chelsea and helped them reach next month’s Carabao Cup final.
“Of course, this is my club and from young, it's been the dream. So, to win with Arsenal, to achieve stuff with Arsenal, this is everything to me,” he said afterwards.
“Special, special, special. It’s a game that you want to play in. It's the games that you want to put these types of performances in and yeah, it's special to be there for sure.
He started last week against Kairat Almaty and then got nine minutes at Leeds as a substitute. That has been better than recent times where he has gone several games without getting a sniff.
There must be some concern that if he is not playing regularly then his England place at the World Cup is at risk.
And all of this seems really harsh on a player who was brilliant in November. He scored a hat-trick against Tottenham, was superb against Bayern Munich and started in Arsenal’s draw at Chelsea which was such a tough week of fixtures. He played them all.
But his season seemed to change in Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa at the start of December. To get him and Martin Odegaard into the same line-up, Eze was pushed wide to the left where he has operated before but he is clearly better as a No10. Even Crystal Palace fans will tell you that.
Eze failed to pick up Matty Cash on Villa’s opening goal, he got hooked at half time and has rarely been thought of a first-choice starter since.
That is brutal. That is the Mikel Arteta school of hard knocks. One mistake and you are done.
In fairness, there used to be a dilemma about getting Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe in the same line-up. That quickly went away.
Eze is not a great wide left player. But he can operate as a dual No.8 and is clearly a very good No.10. Personally, I think his presence has probably put pressure on Odegaard this season and he has looked good at times. In the last three weeks not so much.
But Eze really needs - and deserves - a few more opportunities. It is hard to judge when you are dropping him in and out of games.
Eberechi Eze
Eberechi Eze must regain momentum(Image: Getty Images)
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Arteta also needs to work with him, get more and use him because he is strong, skilful, incredibly intelligent as a player and really offers such a strong alternative to Odegaard.
It is hard just seeing him speak with such love and passion - then not really getting a fair crack of the whip. There are so many games ahead that he will get more minutes. It is now down to him to seize the moment.
Because he was such a good story last summer - and it deserves a happy ending.
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