Arsenal player told he has the same problem that Florian Wirtz has at Liverpool right now

Add as preferred source on Google

Nigel Reo-Coker has likened Florian Wirtz’s problem at Liverpool to one player’s situation in the Arsenal squad.

Arsenal wanted to sign Wirtz during the summer transfer window, but it was Liverpool who handed Bayer Leverkusen £116m for the playmaker’s services.

Though Wirtz’s talent needs no explanation, it’s fair to say that Arne Slot is yet to see what he was hoping for from the Germany international.

It’s been eight Champions League and Premier League games without a goal or an assist for the 22-year-old now, sparking debate over whether the attacking midfielder is cut out for the English game.

• READ MORE: Declan Rice says two Arsenal players have completely changed this season

Nigel Reo-Coker says Eberechi Eze and Florian Wirtz have the same problem

Many players have shone in the Bundesliga and then struggled upon making the trip to the Premier League.

Kai Havertz’s early struggles at Arsenal epitomise such, as the German was one of Bayer Leverkusen’s brightest sparks before he signed for Chelsea. 

Liverpool might look at Havertz now and hope that things fall into place for Wirtz, but it’s actually another Arsenal player who has been compared to the Reds’ underwhelming signing. 

Reacting to Liverpool’s defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, Nigel Reo-Coker told CBS Sports Golazo that he thinks Eberechi Eze is ‘very similar’ to Wirtz. 

“Florian Wirtz, he’s a number 10 for me, you have to have him in the middle of the pitch,” Reo-Coker began.

“I’ll make a comparison to Eze at Arsenal, very similar, Eze is at his best when he’s in the number ten role. Florian Wirtz has to be a number ten.”

Arteta has been questioned for not starting Eze in the number ten role more frequently at Arsenal, but, to counter Reo-Coker’s point, there’s a major difference between the Gunners’ new signing and Wirtz.

Eze has had a superior start to Wirtz

Reo-Coker’s assessment is correct to a degree, as Eze’s best position is central, but to compare Arsenal’s summer signing to Wirtz is way off the mark.

How Arteta uses Eze is a talking point rather than a complaint, as the England international has performed wherever he’s been utilised.

Eze has three goal contributions from his opening six appearances for Arsenal, playing just once in attacking midfield.

Wirtz has yet to make such an impact for Liverpool, despite playing 219 more minutes than Eze.

When looking at how their title rivals’ new signings are struggling to adapt, Arteta will be even more grateful to Andrea Berta for the players he welcomed to N5 in the summer.