Mikel Arteta could brutally axe ‘under pressure’ Arsenal star to take Gunners to ‘next level’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is faced with difficult selection decisions as the Gunners vie to win the Premier League title.
In their last top-flight game, Arsenal drew 1-1 with Manchester City, leaving them five points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
However, the North Londoners have successfully progressed to the next round of the Carabao Cup, via a 2-0 victory over League One side Port Vale.
Meanwhile, William Saliba has agreed a new contract with Arsenal, ensuring that Arteta will enjoy the defender’s services in the long term.
Mikel Arteta has been urged to drop Martin Odegaard in favour of Eberechi Eze
Amid an exciting summer transfer window at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to life with Arteta’s side, notching one goal and two assists in five appearances.
Since the England international swapped South London for North London, Arsenal have deployed him as a left-winger.
However, speaking live on Sky Sports on Thursday, 25 September, former Premier League striker Charlie Austin said: “Martin Odegaard is the one that’s under pressure because of the goals and assists last year.
“He got three goals, eight assists. For someone essential, to be pivotal to the team that’s not a lot, that’s not hitting the heights of what he has done in the past.
“For me, Eze being in the middle is something that can really connect and can drive Arsenal on to the next level.
“I understand what Mikel Arteta’s saying by certain times he needs to be on the left because there is space, but he can do that by starting centrally and moving to the left by having that free role.
“I just think we’ve seen over the past games how pivotal he is and how dominant he is when he gets the ball.
“The manager’s said he needs to be connected to the game, he needs to have a touch of the ball. Well, play him in the right position, you’ll see what he can do.”
Arsenal would be better served by playing Eze in a more central role
As outlined by Austin, Arteta may have to drop Odegaard to accommodate Eze in his best position.
| 2024/25 Premier League stats | Martin Odegaard | Eberechi Eze |
| Appearances (Starts) | 30 (26) | 34 (31) |
| Goals | 3 | 8 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 4.81 | 10.5 |
| Chances created | 63 | 58 |
| Assists | 8 | 8 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 6.66 | 4.68 |
Thanks to the wing-back system utilised by Palace boss Oliver Glasner, the England international operated in an attacking midfield role for the Eagles.
Eze enjoyed a strong season for Glasner’s men last term, firing them to FA Cup glory by scoring 14 goals and producing 12 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.
Contrastingly, Odegaard notched six goals and 11 assists in 45 outings as Arsenal failed to win silverware.
Therefore, Arteta’s attack would be more clinical if he selected Eze in a more central role, while the 27-year-old is playing alongside better teammates at his new club.
Despite Noni Madueke’s injury setback, Arsenal can deploy the former Palace man centrally by utilising either Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli on the wing.
Eze can hand the Gunners the creativity they need to overcome Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday, 28 September.