Mikel Arteta’s team selection for Arsenal’s clash with Brighton had people talking, even more so by full-time.
Before the match even kicked off, there were two discussions about Arteta’s selection, one being the absence of a right-back and the other being the eventual absence of a left-back.
In an already heavily altered defence, Riccardo Calafiori was forced to withdraw in the warm-up due to a fitness concern, piling pressure on Arteta’s adaptability.
Fortunately, Arsenal secured the win with their unorthodox back four, which saw Declan Rice play at right-back; however, it was another squad call that had people talking post-match.
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Eberechi Eze was an unused substitute again for Arsenal in the Premier League
Out of those on the bench, three players earned the headlines for not featuring.
Noni Madueke and Ethan Nwaneri didn’t get a single minute, nor did Eberechi Eze.
It’s the second consecutive Premier League match that Eze has had to sit out, something the playmaker is unfamiliar with.
You’d have to rewind to April 2022 to recall the last time that Eze sat out two consecutive games in the Premier League.
That’s around 194 weeks and 1,363 days ago, emphasising how bold Arteta’s call to leave his summer signing out of the matchday action has been.
Eze needs to improve several areas of his game if he is to reclaim his spot in the starting XI from Martin Odegaard, a task that was made even more difficult after the Brighton win.
Brighton win was tough for Eze
While Eze watched on from the bench, Odegaard had his best game of the season, scoring his first goal of the campaign against the Seagulls.
It wasn’t only the Arsenal captain whose performance would’ve proven difficult to watch for Eze, as in the other position he’s contending in, both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard impressed.
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Going from Crystal Palace’s best player to joining Arteta’s title-challenging squad, Eze knew he’d need to adapt, but perhaps didn’t expect to have his minutes limited as they have been.
With a bustling schedule and plenty of games to play, the Englishman won’t be worrying about his future involvement too much, but pressure is certainly on to impress.
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