{"id":22474,"date":"2026-02-05T05:07:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T05:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/05\/mikel-arteta-needs-to-solve-the-eberechi-eze-puzzle-to-achieve-his-world-cup-dreams\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T05:07:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T05:07:28","slug":"mikel-arteta-needs-to-solve-the-eberechi-eze-puzzle-to-achieve-his-world-cup-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/05\/mikel-arteta-needs-to-solve-the-eberechi-eze-puzzle-to-achieve-his-world-cup-dreams\/","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta needs to solve the Eberechi Eze puzzle to achieve his World Cup dreams"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Eberechi Eze played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal defeated Chelsea in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to seal their spot at Wembley, but chances have been short-lived in recent days.<\/h2>\n
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Eberechi Eze applauds Arsenal fans after the win over Chelsea (Image: Arsenal FC, Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Eberechi Eze spoke with passion and pride after helping Arsenal reach Wembley. This came back to the Arsenal fans, who were wide-eyed and grinning, beaming with all their might as they realized their dreams.<\/p>\n
Eze started against Chelsea and played a complete game, helping the team advance to next month’s Carabao Cup final.<\/p>\n
“Of course, this is my club and it’s been my dream since I was young. So to win with Arsenal, to achieve something with Arsenal, this is everything to me,” he said after the match.<\/p>\n
“Special, special, special. It’s a game you want to play in. It’s a game you want to put in those types of performances. So yeah, it’s certainly special to be a part of it.”<\/p>\n
read more: Paul Merson is wrong \u2013 Liam Rosenior was almost perfect with his Chelsea vs Arsenal tactics<\/span><\/span>read more: Martin Odegaard responds to Arsenal fans’ nerves with defiant Premier League title message<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nContent cannot be displayed without consent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
read more: Player rating for Arsenal vs Chelsea during League Cup semi-final win: 9\/10 stars<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
He started last week against Kairat Almaty and came on as a substitute for nine minutes against Leeds. That’s better than recently, when he went a few games without being sniffed at.<\/p>\n
There must be concerns that his place in England’s World Cup squad is in jeopardy if he is not playing regularly.<\/p>\n
And all of this seems really tough for a player who had a great November. He scored a hat-trick against Tottenham, was excellent against Bayern Munich and started in the very tough draw between Arsenal and Chelsea. He played them all.<\/p>\n
However, Arsenal’s defeat to Aston Villa in early December seemed to change his season. To put him and Martin Odegaard in the same line-up, Eze was pushed wide to the left, where he had previously played, but he was clearly the better number 10. Even Crystal Palace fans will say so.<\/p>\n
Eze failed to pick up Matty Cash for Villa’s opener, got carried away at half-time and has hardly been considered a first-choice starter ever since.<\/p>\n
That’s cruel. That’s Mikel Arteta’s style of hard knocks. One mistake and you’re done.<\/p>\n
To be fair, there used to be a dilemma about putting Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe in the same line-up. It disappeared quickly.<\/p>\n
Eze is not a great wide left player. But he can function 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’s looked good at times. The last three weeks haven’t been that great.<\/p>\n
But Eze needs and deserves a little more of a chance. It’s difficult to judge when to bring him in and out of a game.<\/p>\n
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Eberechi Eze must regain momentum (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Arteta also needs to work with him, get more and use him. Because as a player he is strong, skilled, incredibly intelligent and really offers a strong replacement for Odegaard.<\/p>\n
It hurts just to see him speak with so much love and passion, but it hurts not to be properly flogged. There are a lot of games coming up so I think he will get more playing time. It’s now up to him to seize this moment.<\/p>\n
Because last summer, he was such a good story – and it deserved a happy ending.<\/p>\n
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![\"Eberechi](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36670516.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Arsenal-v-Chelsea-Carabao-Cup-Semi-Final-Second-Leg.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Eberechi](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36620111.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2258250604.jpg\")
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