Eberechi Eze has named who he believes to be the greatest leader at Arsenal.
The Englishman arrived in N5 this summer after enjoying an exceptional final season at Crystal Palace, netting 14 goals and providing 12 assists across all competitions.
Released by the Gunners as a youngster, the creative midfielder’s return to his boyhood club was arguably one of the most romantic of the summer, although he’s yet to find his best form in a red and white shirt.
Despite this, Eze has clearly integrated into Arsenal’s squad seamlessly, and this should help him start producing on the pitch.
Eberechi Eze says Mikel Arteta is the best leader at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has developed a reputation for being a stubborn and principled coach.
However, this is the mainstream perception of him, and in reality, he appears to be an exceptional man-manager who is incredibly open to listening to new ideas.
The players are clearly bought into his methods and belief system, and this is reflected in how they speak about him in the media.
Arteta has his five-man leadership group in place, spearheaded by the captain, Martin Odegaard, but Eze has still cited the manager as a ‘very good leader’, and not the Norwegian.
“Who would you say is the greatest leader and what attributes do they have to possess?” Eze was asked by Premier League Productions.
“I don’t know who the greatest leader is, but I would say Mikel is a very good leader,” he replied.
“What does Mikel inspire in you?”
“Belief in yourself and the team and that you have everything you need to win.”
Eberechi Eze needs to take in Mikel Arteta’s tactical instructions
Eze has flattered to deceive in his last two matches as Arsenal’s number ten.
While the 27-year-old is evidently invested in Arteta’s belief system and the soft factors that the Spaniard promotes, he’s clearly not yet fully understood the complex tactical instructions issued to him.
Eze is improving off-the-ball and looks more acclimatised to the Gunners’ pressing system than when he first came in.
However, he still looks as though he occasionally doesn’t know where to stand to receive passes in the build-up, and isn’t fully engaged with the attacking patterns of play that are in place.
If he’s to make the most of his spell at the Emirates, he’ll have to better absorb the tactical information given to him. However, it is still early days, and he’s shown himself to be a quick learner in the past.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
