Pundit tells Eberechi Eze that he must do one thing for Arsenal amid Thomas Tuchel criticism

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New Arsenal signing Eberechi Eze endured a difficult game for England on Saturday against Andorra, prompting criticism from Thomas Tuchel.

Eze started as a number ten for the Three Lions, deployed on the right of their midfield trio, close to fellow new Gunners signing Noni Madueke.

Madueke was criticised for his defensive work by Tuchel, but there was a general recognition that the winger was one of England’s better performers in what was a drab performance from the team generally.

However, the German was critical of Eze, claiming the attacking midfielder ‘struggled’ and ‘didn’t have his best day in the number ten position.’

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Adrian Clarke said Eberechi Eze must ‘go wandering’ for Arsenal

Arsenal signed Eze for £67.5 million from Crystal Palace to much fanfare.

The Gunners faithful are excited to see the 27-year-old in action in a red and white shirt, and are confident that he can make the difference for them moving forward.

While the Englishman didn’t deliver for his nation against Andorra, most are cognisant of the fact that a World Cup qualifier against a European minnow at the beginning of a gruelling season isn’t a game to judge him on.

That said, former Arsenal player and now pundit Adrian Clarke took enough from the encounter to tell Eze what he should do against defences that sit deep and congest the middle of the pitch.

“The managers are entitled to say what they like, you’ve just got to deal with it as a player,” Clarke said on Tuchel’s criticism of the former Palace man on the Handbrake Off Podcast.

“It’s true [the midfield was congested], but if I’m Eze, then you go wandering, you go to places where there’s more space, don’t stay in that crowded zone, that would be my message to him.”

What will Eberechi Eze’s role be at Arsenal?

While Eze was deployed as a ten for England, this isn’t the role he’ll most often be used in for Arsenal.

The explosive attacker is more likely to be used on the left wing for the Gunners, a position that is open for someone to nail down due to the struggles of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Clarke’s suggestion of wandering into random areas will be less applicable to Eze when he’s used off the left than it would be when used centrally.

While he’ll still be granted some freedom to roam into interesting areas in the final third by Mikel Arteta, the Spaniard’s system does rely somewhat on his wingers staying wide.

That said, Piero Hincapie’s arrival at Arsenal could liberate Eze to play further inside, with the Ecuadorian exceptional at providing an overlapping option.