Arsenal ran riot against a hapless Leeds United side last time out as they put five past the newly promoted team. Just before the encounter, the man of the moment was Eberechi Eze as the club unveiled their new number 10 in front of the Emirates crowd. The former Crystal Palace man was a player Arsenal were linked to all summer, with reports confirming the club’s intent from as far back as June. Arsenal could only just complete a move for the talented forward and were it not for a serious injury to Kai Havertz, Eze could have been a Spurs player at the time of writing.
Several factors contributed to Arsenal’s delayed approach. Chief among them was his profile, as the club saw him as a more central option in a position where they were already well stocked. Arsenal reportedly cooled their interest in Eze following Ethan Nwaneri’s contract extension.
Eze’s role in Arteta’s system
Before Arsenal completed his signing, the club reportedly favoured a move for an out-and-out left winger, but the way Mikel Arteta set up the attack against Leeds suggests Eberechi Eze could be deployed almost exclusively on the left wing.
For much of the encounter Arsenal set up in a 3-2-5 formation when building up or in advanced attacking positions. Arsenal usually set up this way and it is nothing new, but what was particularly interesting to see was the players occupying the half spaces in the attacking quintet. Instead of Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard occupying the left and right half spaces respectively, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka filled the spaces instead.
Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber were the ones to provide the width on both flanks and, as a result, the wingers were often picked up by line breaking passes in between the lines, setting them free to make inroads into the penalty area.
How Eze could thrive
Given how fluid Arsenal are, they did not always set up that way, but it provides a clear template on how to maximise the ability of Eberechi Eze in a position that is not his natural fit. He is more of a danger when central and picking up positions in those areas will allow him to utilise his dribbling and goalscoring ability to full effect. His ability to find his teammates with quick passes will also be an invaluable asset in that position, especially when considering the intensity and frequency with which Viktor Gyökeres makes runs in behind.
Lining up in a more central role off the left will also help with familiarity, given he featured prominently in a similar position for Crystal Palace where he played as one of two attacking midfielders.
All things considered, Eberechi Eze and Arsenal stand to benefit immensely if Mikel Arteta deploys him in that manner. We will have to wait and see exactly how Eze lines up in the starting eleven, but what are your early thoughts Gooners?
Benjamin Kenneth
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
We can use him wide left,if he feeds Gyokeres early he can cut inside for return as well,or he can start in Odegaurd position when needed.Nwanieri can cover Saka and also cut in ,in a similar role from the right.( absolutely mouth watering options now.)
“We can use him wide left.”
ABSOLUTELY NO – more than enough evidence you cannot play Eze orthodox winger without all his magic powers disappearing.
There is only one and a half positions Eze can play. A free role roaming position, or left sided 8 in a match you don’t need anything from him supporting number six or defence, England away at Malta for example, but definitely not tough away games for Arsenal.
“His ability to find teammates with quick passes” This is where Eze truly shines the most imo and it makes everyone around him better than before. He is always trying to find the space whether on the ball or not and he often looks to promote an attack with such passes or alternatively take it upon himself to run at the defense or shoot if an effective pass isn’t possible.
So true BB and I’m really looking forward to seeing Martinelli benefit from his skills.
We can then assess the potential of Martinelli, especially with Zubimendi also favouring the left side.
@ken1945
I think Martinellis potential is well documented at this time. He thrived when he had players like Tierney and Zinchenko overlapping and feeding him. Otherwise, he’s stuck out in no man’s land tracking back as well as trying to get forward to create something all by himself. In other words, it’s not him, it’s the tactics.
Maybe, if Arteta keeps using an overlapping LB to reduce the markers of our LW
If this is the case, Eze could cut inside easily from the left wing without having three men marking him
@Gai How genius Arteta is tactically would be tested with the arrival of new Buys. Let’s see how he brings out the best out of Eze and the rest. Since the arrival of Zubimendi something has been missing DRice game.
I want to see how Arteta plays Zubimendi Rice and Eze in the absence of Odegard.
My idea.
4:3:3
EZE. Rice Zubimendi
Rice is rarely able to shoot and run into the final-third nowadays, since he was tasked to drop deep due to Calafiori’s overlapping runs
But he’s still making assists from the corner situations, thanks to his excellent long passing ability
I liked your idea about replacing Odegaard with Eze, but I think Arteta will try Eze on the left wing first
AGREE; although I would change your sentence to ” …Zubimendi Rice and Eze and leave Odegaard on the bench”.
According to David Ornstein on The Athletic, Eze has played only 9% of his games in the past five seasons on the left wing.
He should be pulling strings from the center of the park, not just the left will be transformed, but the entire pitch.
What we should not make the mistake of doing now is over coaching him, a gentle pot on the shoulder, son go and enjoy yourself , those five words could do the trick
100% Agree
…some players should not be stifled because they simply know what’s needed.
Anfield is probably the hardest epl ground to go and bring back a result for any team. However, if ever there was a time when a manager cannot quite pin-point where exactly the gunners threat will come from? this will be that moment. We are full of attacking unpredictability the variables are far too many for slot to workout. Perhaps he has to resort to artificial intelligence (AI) for a solution, but the only thing i see them trying is all out attack… something which will be stumped out by our reliable back 4. So… provided our newbies are not found in awe or shocked by the *Anfield Atmosphere* and we take our chances – i see no reason why we cannot put away 2 or 3 in the onion basket and silence their fans completely.
waal2waal
Liverpool is leaking goal like an old sieve, at this point only Wolves and West Ham have conceived more.
My main concern is our left back position with Sala wind up by the Anfield faithful.
In my opinion, this got to be the set up at Anfield come weekend
—————–Raya
–White/Tomi —-Saliba—Maghalse–Timber
———-Zubimendi—-Eze—-Rice
——-‘Madueke— Gyokers—Martineli
Martineli and his speed presence alone , could keep Pool high press in check
While Liverpool maybe leaking goals, nobody has scored more…
@Gunsmoke
I agree – plus I recall when in cup competition our Martinelli was notably fearless against the Reds – he still has that fire in him and just needs it to be teased out once again – our recruits ought to help restore his skills set: i wouldn’t be surprised if Martinelli brings the goals/ assists vs Liverpool, im not about to write him off.
/Tomi ?? he’s gone now. In place we have Timber.
I prefer Calafiori as 1st choice LB backed is MLS.
Odegaard likely will start IF FIT – *Eze likely plays a cameo – to effect a draw or to turn the game but only if we are behind at Anfield.
Tomiyasu is no longer with us
If Odegaard is unavailable, Eze as #10 is a no brainer. This is where he mainly played for Crystal Palace; his running (providing addition attacking threat for defenders) and passing skills, will open up opportunities for Martinelli, Gyokeres and the RW.
Why can’t Arteta play 3 central defenders to free up space for both Eze and Odegaard as double attacking midfielders?. I would play this formation if I were him.
Raya
Timber………………..Saliba………………..Gabriel
Rice………………..Zubimendi
Madueke……..Odegaard….Eze…..Martinelli
Gyökeres