Following his incredible North London derby hat-trick, things have gone pretty quiet for Eberechi Eze, who once again struggled during Arsenal against Wolves.
Eze wasn’t the only player who looked thoroughly underwhelming at Wolves, as the Gunners just about got over the line at the Emirates Stadium.
Bukayo Saka forced two own goals against Wolves, as Sam Johnstone and Yersen Mosquera both turned his crosses into their own net.
Finish the sentence: In Arsenal’s next match Eberechi Eze should start __________
At left wing? Number ten? On the bench?
During the win, Saka carried Arsenal on his back, with Eze, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli all struggling to have an impact on the game.
Gyokeres’ struggles have been well documented; however, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Mikel Arteta’s tactics are also hurting Eze.
Mikel Arteta’s tactic is causing Eberechi Eze to struggle
Arteta’s instruction for his team to produce as many crosses as possible is currently to the detriment of Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal managed 30 crosses against Wolves, which is their second-highest tally in a single Premier League match this season.
After the match, Arsenal fans slammed Eze’s performance against Wolves, but Martin Odegaard was also highlighted as a weak link when he came on.
Both players are clearly two of the Gunners’ most talented players, suggesting there is a more systemic issue holding the pair back.
Who was Arsenal’s most disappointing player vs Wolves?
That issue seems to be that a lot of the buildup play is coming from out wide, with Arsenal’s main chance creation coming from crosses into the box.
Now, a key part of Odegaard and Eze’s role in the team is arriving in the box to finish off these chances, but clearly, that is wasting their talents.
That’s not to say the tactic isn’t working, as Saka is playing his best football and it won them the game against Wolves, but perhaps Arteta must rethink who he is using in the number ten.
Viktor Gyokeres should be embarrassed by Gabriel Jesus’ impact versus Wolves
One player who really ought to have done a lot better from Arsenal’s crosses was Gyokeres, who found himself physically dominated by Wolves.
The Swede won just two aerial duels against the Premier League’s bottom-placed team and had fewer touches than any other player who started.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus came off the bench and caused havoc in the penalty area, with his movement helping to force the winning goal.
Given the difference in stature between the two, Gyokeres should be a little bit embarrassed by his lack of impact from crosses.
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