With Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard injured, Eberechi Eze has a chance to shine at Arsenal.
Eze’s hat-trick against Tottenham seemed to signal a boost for his career at the Emirates. However, the situation hasn’t progressed as expected since then.
He hasn’t started any of Arsenal’s last nine league matches, and his playtime has significantly reduced in recent months.
Mikel Arteta’s squad faces challenges due to injuries, making Eze’s contributions crucial, especially after the club invested £68 million to acquire him from Tottenham.
Why Eberechi Eze Needs to Prove Himself
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Eze is now the only fit player for Arsenal in the attacking midfield position.
Havertz’s injury is a significant disadvantage for Arteta’s team, particularly since the German had recently regained form.
Before his injury, Havertz had started to challenge Eze for the number ten role. Now, Eze finds himself back in contention for a starting spot by default.
Given the circumstances, Eze is expected to start against Brentford, but his recent performances have not strongly advocated for more playing time. He joined from Crystal Palace in a deal that appeared promising for Arteta’s squad.
The transfer took place late last summer after Andrea Berta encouraged Arsenal to act swiftly to secure him over Spurs. However, he has not yet made the anticipated impact since his arrival.
With Saka and Odegaard also unavailable for the match against Brentford, Eze has a genuine opportunity. He excelled against Tottenham earlier in the season, and a repeat performance could secure him more regular playing time under Arteta.
Latest on Kai Havertz’s Injury
Simon Collins reports that Havertz is likely to miss three to four weeks due to a muscle injury.
The German had been performing well, contributing two goals and two assists in his last four appearances while playing in the attacking midfield role.
Although he was selected over Eze in the recent match, with both him and Odegaard out, Eze now has the opportunity to step up at the Emirates Stadium.