Eberechi Eze Arsenal Form: Arsenal have made an encouraging start to the 2026/27 campaign, collecting six wins from their opening seven Premier League matches. Mikel Arteta’s side have shown defensive discipline and controlled several important games, although their attacking options have faced different challenges.
The summer departures of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard have changed the balance of Arsenal’s forward line. With Martin Ødegaard occupying the central attacking midfield role, Arteta has fewer natural options for the left wing, particularly after Christos Tzolis suffered a hamstring injury.
Eberechi Eze has therefore attracted greater attention. The 28-year-old arrived from Crystal Palace in August 2025 for a reported fee of around £60 million, bringing individual skill, close control and an ability to create chances from difficult positions.
However, his second season at the Emirates has started unevenly. According to BBC Sport’s Arsenal reporter Alex Howell, Eze has scored once in nine appearances this season. He also came off at half-time during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest after recording just nine passes and 22 touches.
England manager Thomas Tuchel offered some context during the international break, suggesting that Eze was only recently returning to his best physical condition. His performances have nevertheless raised questions about how effectively he can influence matches within Arteta’s system.
Eberechi Eze Arsenal Form: Why Eze has struggled to find his best role
At Crystal Palace, Eze enjoyed greater freedom in central areas, where he could receive possession, carry the ball past opponents and create openings without following the same positional demands. Arsenal present a different challenge, with Ødegaard established as the first-choice number 10 and Arteta demanding precise movement from his attacking players.
Playing on the left requires Eze to balance width, combination play and defensive responsibilities. His natural instinct often involves moving inside to receive the ball, but Arsenal need their left-sided attacker to stretch opponents and create space for overlapping runs.
Eze still offers valuable qualities. His close control, ability to beat defenders and quick changes of direction can unsettle compact defences. His per-90 figures for assists, shots on target and completed dribbles have also improved on last season’s numbers, suggesting that his underlying attacking contribution deserves attention.
The weakness lies in consistency and his ability to influence matches when opponents restrict his space. His limited involvement against Forest illustrated how quickly he can become peripheral when Arsenal struggle to connect with him.
Can Arteta unlock Eze’s creativity without sacrificing Arsenal’s structure?
Arsenal should resist the temptation to judge Eze solely through his recent goal return. His contribution last season included five goals against Tottenham, including a home hat-trick, alongside decisive winners against Newcastle United and Crystal Palace during the title-winning campaign.
Arteta must now find a role that allows the England international to attack defenders without compromising the team’s positional structure. Giving Eze freedom to move into the half-spaces, while a full-back provides width, could help him receive possession in more dangerous areas. Clear responsibilities in possession and during defensive transitions would give him the structure he needs without removing his improvisation.
Arsenal invested heavily in a player whose individual quality can decide tight matches. With the left wing short of established options, Eze has a genuine opportunity to become more influential. He must improve his involvement, make better use of possession and show that his creativity can thrive within Arteta’s demands.
