One Arsenal player has barely featured this World Cup, but his England teammate Elliot Anderson is a massive fan.
Eberechi Eze has made substitute appearances in England’s last three games, with his most notable contribution coming against DR Congo, where he formed an all-Arsenal trio down the right with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
The three combined effectively in the build-up to Harry Kane’s equaliser, and it surely would not have gone unnoticed by Thomas Tuchel that their club chemistry translates directly onto the international stage.
He may now be a direct title rival next season, but Elliot Anderson has offered his own glowing praise for Eze.
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Elliot Anderson singles out “amazing” Eberechi Eze as the standout at England training
Speaking to The Rest Is Football on Netflix, Anderson was asked whether anyone had surprised him with how good they are in training.
He admitted it was a difficult question given how high the level is across the board, but did single out one name.
“I think Eze’s one for me, who I think is unbelievable,” Anderson said. “I just think he’s technically so gifted. His quality on the ball, his dribbling.
“He just flows with the ball, it’s all so smooth. For me he’s just really nice to watch and see happen. I think he’s amazing.”
He’s not the only one. Jamie Vardy has also backed Eze to be a gamechanger for England at this tournament.
He just needs the opportunity.
Could Eberechi Eze get his chance to start for England at the World Cup?
Eze is the sort of player who benefits from starting rather than coming off the bench.
His upturn in Arsenal form last season came after he was given a consistent run of games in the number ten role by Mikel Arteta.
That belief from his manager fed directly into Eze’s performances, and he started to look like the confident player that was signed from Crystal Palace.
That will probably be the case at international level too.
Tuchel could now be weighing up whether to give Eze that opportunity from the start, particularly if Rice continues at right-back.
That all-Arsenal combination against DR Congo will surely be in his thinking. The chemistry between Rice, Saka and Eze is not something you can just conjure up.
The irony is that Eze is in indirect competition for a starting role with Morgan Rogers, Arsenal’s primary transfer target this summer.
The pair may well be doing the same at the Emirates next season too.
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