Mikel Arteta Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has been advised to play Eberechi Eze in a central role to maximize his potential at Arsenal. The 27-year-old midfielder, who joined the Gunners for £67.5 million over the summer, recently scored his first goal for the club in a Carabao Cup match against Lincoln City. Despite his promising start, Eze has yet to secure a consistent starting position, having been deployed both on the left wing and in an attacking midfield role. As Arsenal prepares to face Newcastle on Sunday, there is growing support among fans and pundits for Eze to start centrally.
Ally McCoist said: “We’re only talking about one position here, the choice of one player. So we’re talking about a position in that middle three. Should Eberechi Eze have started? Right. I have the opinion, yes. But I don’t think it’s a massive, massive deal. Declan Rice starts, so it’s two from three, I think. Whether it’s Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino’s a good player, but people forget it. Merino’s a right good player and he scores important goals. So Arteta decided to go with Merino and Zubimendi and he’s starting Rice in that game instead of Eze. So that’s the decision I think that’s been spoken about. Now, whether he’s been too cautious or not… he’s decided not to play Eze and that’s the talking point. Should he have started them? Probably. But I watched them against Nottingham Forest, and he starts on the left-hand side. And I think he’s got to try and find a way of getting him into the team in a more central position rather than stuck out on a wing, where Saka will sit in that outside-right position. On the left, that’s not for Eze. I think he’s got to be more central and he’s got to be more involved. So that’s where I am with it. He played the same way up at Liverpool. And he’s an unbelievable free kick away from getting a great result. They won at Old Trafford. You know, and nobody will tell me that they did not deserve to get a point against Manchester City. So I know they scored late on with what was a brilliant goal. Great pass, great run, great finish. But it was deserved. It was deserved. And I think a bigger talking point than Mikel Arteta not going for it. I don’t believe that’s the case.”
The debate over Eze’s best position highlights a broader tactical challenge for Arteta, who must balance his squad’s attacking capabilities with strategic coherence. Eze’s versatility allows him to fit into various roles, but his impact is potentially maximized when he operates centrally, where he can be more involved in the play. Arteta’s decision to start Declan Rice alongside Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino in recent matches has sparked discussions about whether Eze should be prioritized in the starting lineup.
Arteta’s approach has been characterized by a focus on attacking football, as evidenced by his use of players like Madueke, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, and Gyokeres. This attacking depth underscores the challenge of fitting Eze into a system that already boasts numerous offensive options. As Arsenal continues to navigate the season, Arteta’s tactical decisions regarding Eze’s role could prove pivotal in determining the team’s success.
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