Arsenal might now have the next Paul Scholes in their squad

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Paul Scholes spent his career having Arsenal as a rival, but now, his influence on the Premier League is rubbing off on the Gunners.

Scholes still has some strong opinions on Arsenal today, remaining close to the action as a pundit.

Described as ‘one of the greatest football players in England’ by Arsene Wenger back in 2010, Scholes is the benchmark for many midfielders in today’s game, including some at Arsenal.

In fact, after the Gunners’ 4-1 North London Derby win over Tottenham, it became clear that Mikel Arteta might be developing his very own Scholes in the current Arsenal squad.

Eberechi Eze could be Arsenal’s very own Paul Scholes

You don’t become an 11-time Premier League winner and two-time Champions League winner by chance.

Whether Arsenal fans love or loathe him, Scholes was a superstar in midfield and an architect of Manchester United’s success, which is just what Eberechi Eze could become.

After Eze’s incredible hat-trick against Tottenham, the playmaker was put under the spotlight, and so many came to the same conclusion about the 27-year-old.

Underneath the ‘amazing’ talent of Eze is one of the most humble players in the game, a star who isn’t concerned about whether he’s in the spotlight or not.

Scholes was exactly the same, perhaps making his presence on the pitch more noticeable than Eze through his defensive approach, but his world-class execution going forward was merely second nature.

Eze’s teammates celebrated his goals more theatrically than he did, as the message behind the playmaker’s goal celebrations was one of gratitude rather than stardom.

It’s one comparison that likens Eze to Scholes, so much so that even Manchester United icons are saying it.

Nicky Butt actually likened Eze to Scholes

After the North London Derby, Nicky Butt and Scholes himself analysed Eze’s performance on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, which is when Butt likened his former teammate to the Arsenal star. 

“Looking at him yesterday, you’re looking going, he looks like he’s that humble. He maybe doesn’t want to be a superstar. I think a few people like Scholes, who was like that,” Butt said.

“You’re that humble that sometimes you don’t want to be the spotlight on you all the time.

“And he probably is one of them. And now he’s realised, hopefully I think he will do, after scoring the hat trick yesterday, he’s going to be a superstar.”

Having shared the pitch 266 times with Scholes, Butt knows his former teammate more than most, authenticating the comparison with Eze.