Alan Shearer admitted he was baffled by Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Eberechi Eze on the bench during Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool at the weekend.
The attacker had joined the Gunners a week before the game and trained with his new teammates in the build-up to the fixture. Reports suggested he had already impressed in training, which led many supporters to expect him to be named in the starting XI, especially with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard absent.
Shearer Questions Arteta’s Selection
To the surprise of many, Arteta opted to keep Eze among the substitutes and only introduced him in the closing stages of the game. By that point, Liverpool had already taken the lead and Eze was unable to make a decisive impact.
The situation puzzled Shearer, who pointed out that the player had already enjoyed a full pre-season with Crystal Palace and had been involved in competitive matches, including the Community Shield. As such, he argued there was no reason for the forward to be eased in gradually.
Speaking on the matter, Shearer said via Metro Sport:
“I was a little bit surprised with Arsenal not playing Eze.
Why does he need easing in? It’s not as if he hasn’t played, he’s played all season already and he’s already played Liverpool.
I was sat having a pint with Wrighty [Ian Wright] and Wrighty was saying, ‘Why’s he not playing?!’, it’s not as if he hasn’t played all season.”
Balancing Expectations for Eze
Despite the criticism, there remains an argument that easing Eze into the squad is a measured approach. Integrating a new signing into a system as structured as Arsenal’s requires time, and Arteta may have chosen caution in such a high-profile fixture.
Nevertheless, the decision drew scrutiny given the attacking absences and the expectation surrounding the new arrival. While Eze is unlikely to become an automatic starter immediately, he will be expected to compete strongly for a place in the line-up over the coming weeks, especially as Arsenal look to balance their domestic and European ambitions.
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Arteta was far too negative. Eze and Nwaneri should have started and why was an injured Saliba even playing. It could be worse for Saliba now.
Arteta relies far too much on set pieces. It’s like he’s forgotten how to play normal football. With our attack we can be awesome given the chance.
Right call to make eze come off the bench. It’s customary with new signings in every club. Nonetheless eze should have come on in the early minutes of the 2nd half. What did he do even after he came on? nothing! to the best even a minute suffices. he acted as if he came from another european league. he was one of the futiles.
You’re wrong please,you know to be honest,I wasn’t expecting anything from gunners this season,they bought bench warmers,I have never see any team that want to challenge for a premier League,loose their best players,I am still scratching my head how arsenal allow their two defensive midfielders to leave,is not about going forward,how can this people allow someone like Partey go and you replaced him with zumendi in this brutal premier league,you need a player that is a bit physically for your dm, especially arsenal that always think forward and get undone by counter, Zubimendi can’t do that,he is too small,hold ball a lot and easily bullied out possession in a dangerous place,give Partey whatever he wants, Partey makes us tick,gunners are not ready at all and talking about Liverpool game,what do you call the forward line of martinelli,Gyokeres and noni, when you set up like that you don’t really need a goal,can someone tell me why we bought Merino,what is he good at doing that he can start a match over nwaneri or eze in that number ten role, Arteta didn’t have a plan of winning that match he is content with a draw which is a negative attitude, martinelli is worst player in that arsenal set up,and you choose him over other wingers,how can you bring dowman when someone like nwaneri is on the bench ,a player who have an eye for goal, allowing Zubimendi at base of our defense is a big crime,he is already turning into a target,he is small get bullied out of possession and he can’t defend,tell me who throws himself to their opponent from the back at the age of their 18 box, we’re already a mess,push that guy up even if it’s in the number 8 and allow rice to play dm,even that will kill his potential,but that’s the only option for now because Arteta and co messed up with Partey deals,what arsenal need is a defensive minded player like Caicedo and they should look into what Arteta does with players because the rate of the injuries are alarming,allow players to rest and don’t over stress them.
No truer words have been spoken (sorry if I go that wrong, English is not my first language).
@Bond you just wrote on my thoughts.
Dec. Rice was one of the best defensive midfielders in the country before we brought him in and, yes we needed someone to play box to box role which he’s done perfectly well. Zubimendi is also a dm player by trade but he has better footwork than Rice and more intelligent player in the final third. I expected Arteta and co to have seen this and switch their roles on the pitch.
Let Zubi replace Santi while Dec Rice shield the back line.
Hopefully he will get to realize this in time and do something before it’s too late.
He (MA) needs to work on his negative approach to football. Arsenal tradition has never been defensive, so he has to stop.
On the way our team falters getting to the business end of the football season, Arteta needs be told to improve on how he motivates his team.
His team becomes tired and lack the strength to push through to the end while other teams are coming tick in resilience to end the season stronger, even the relegation threatening teams.
On this, we lost champions league spot once and league twice.