Mikel Arteta has faced criticism for his use of England international Eberechi Eze, who joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace for £67.5m in the summer.
Premier League player turned pundit Paul Parker believes Mikel Arteta is stifling Ebelesi Eze’s creativity. Eze has not scored a goal or assisted since scoring a hat-trick in the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Martin Odegaard’s return from injury has created competition for a place in the starting XI. Parker is now questioning why Arsenal spent £67.5m on Eze just to take away Arteta’s freedom.
“I love what[Morgan]Rodgers is doing at Aston Villa and I think it’s similar to what Eberechi Eze was doing in a similar role at Crystal Palace,” he told gambling portal British Gambler. “Eze was outstanding at the time. I think he was the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League last season.”
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However, he expressed concerns about Eze’s move to Arsenal, saying: “I think his freedom has been taken away from him by Mikel Arteta since he went to Arsenal. They bought him for what he brought, but after getting him they tried to get him to do something different. For that kind of money, it doesn’t make sense.”
Arteta himself has previously claimed to allow Eze’s freedom within his tactical framework and may dispute that assessment. The Arsenal manager said: “I’m really impressed with him (Eze). I’ve heard a lot about him, I’ve talked to a lot of people. He’s really smart, he has a special energy and a special aura around him. He’s really motivated.”
Arteta added: “He’s already gathered a lot of information about what we want to see on the pitch, but that’s why we brought him here, especially to make sure he has the freedom and ability to express his qualities.”
“You feel comfortable next to him. He has a big smile on his face. He asks you the right questions. And he has the ability to flow the ball, pick passes, get past people effortlessly and understand the timing of things. It’s very impressive.”
“We have a lot of players right now who can play in different positions and they can fill in the holes when we have them and that’s going to be very much needed given the start to the season that’s already been hit by injuries. So I’m very happy that we’ve got the ability to do that.”
Eze has been used in a variety of roles this season, from the left wing, to attacking playmaker and even as a No. 8 on the left side of midfield. That hasn’t necessarily translated into consistent production for the 27-year-old, but it’s often a gamble for creative players experiencing purple spots.
It may not be a coincidence that he has been left out of the starting XI, as Arsenal have found it difficult to break down their defense of late and the Gunners need some talented players to shine in their squad. With a busy Christmas roster arriving, Eze could make a big impression in the new year.
It remains to be seen how significant that contribution will be. But it could prove crucial in his boyhood club’s bid for the Premier League title.
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