Eberechi Eze is facing a tough challenge to cement his long-term spot at Arsenal, with growing questions about his place in Mikel Arteta's tactical setup. Despite arriving for a potential £70 million fee, his second season at the Emirates has gotten off to a shaky start.
Arsenal bosses are reportedly unconvinced about his suitability as a permanent left-winger, and opportunities in his preferred central attacking role are becoming scarce. This puts Eze in a difficult situation just months after being heralded as a significant attacking recruit for the club.
According to TEAMtalk, a sense of frustration is mounting on both sides regarding Eze's current role. Arsenal are still trying to pinpoint his most effective position. Martin Ødegaard remains the undisputed No.10, and Arteta seems hesitant to deploy Eze regularly on the left, as he tends to drift inside rather than stretch play wide.
This issue was evident in Arsenal's recent 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest. Eze started on the left but was substituted at halftime after failing to make a significant impact. Noni Madueke, who came on as a substitute, went on to score the winning goal, further complicating Eze's path into the starting lineup.
However, writing off Eze prematurely might be a mistake. He has showcased his talent in an Arsenal shirt, notably scoring five goals in two North London derbies against Tottenham last season, demonstrating why the club invested heavily in him. Arsenal's own analysis, published on their official website, described Eze as "a natural No.10" who offers tactical flexibility in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Eze's primary challenge may be tactical fit rather than ability. Asking him to play as a traditional winger diminishes the qualities that made him a standout player at Crystal Palace. Arteta faces a crucial decision: if a central role cannot be found for Eze, the relationship could become strained. Given his talent, Arsenal should explore all tactical avenues before deeming such an expensive signing a failure.
