Micah Richards was impressed with Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Eberechi Eze ahead of Martin Odegaard in the North London Derby.
Arteta won’t think twice about starting Eze against Tottenham in the future, as the midfielder has scored eight goals in his last five Premier League games against Spurs.
On matchday 27, it was more of the same, as the summer signing scored twice in the North London Derby to help Arsenal on their way to a 4-1 win.
Though Eze’s hat-trick against Spurs earlier in the season was a statement, the Englishman’s starting spot on Sunday afternoon was not promised, but Micah Richards thinks Arteta made the right call.
TRUE or FALSE: Eberechi Eze has just taken Martin Odegaard’s spot at Arsenal… 👀
Micah Richards says Mikel Arteta was brave to start Eberechi Eze against Tottenham
Questions were being asked about Eze’s role at Arsenal just several days before the derby.
Richards and plenty of others felt as though Martin Odegaard would start upon returning from injury, but Arteta remained firm in selecting Eze to start instead.
“I thought it was brave of Arteta to start him today because I thought Odegaard was going to start,” Richards admitted on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“Then to repay the team with two goals and a good performance, I thought that was brave from the manager.”
The pundit thought that Arteta’s unpredictable call paid off, as the Arsenal manager had full belief that the 27-year-old would step up just as he did before in the North London Derby.
Arteta later admitted that he’s starting to understand Eze better, with the boss’s decision in the derby proving to be a hit.
Mikel Arteta’s insight into Eberechi Eze’s dressing room behaviour in the North London Derby
Eze has such a calm temperament, but when it comes to facing Tottenham, he’s louder than most on the pitch.
TRUE or FALSE: Eberechi Eze is Arsenal’s best number ten when at his best…
During Arteta’s post-match press conference, he was asked if he spoke to Eze about his impact specifically in the North London Derby.
In his response, the boss shared what he had seen from Eze in the dressing room.
“You just have to look at his face, and the way he was in the dressing room and with that big smile and his eyes are just expressing everything that you need to.
“He came here for a reason, and we need those moments from these players.”
When it comes to North London Derbies, Eze is the definition of a player who rises to the occasion.
Now, Arsenal just need to see that level consistently.
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