Alan Pardew has warned that Eberechi Eze may struggle to become a regular starter for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, with the former manager suggesting the England international could instead be used as an impact substitute.
Eze scored in Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Lille, but his first Premier League start of the season against Nottingham Forest proved far more difficult. Arteta substituted him at half-time, with Noni Madueke later coming on to score the winning goal.
Alan Pardew questions Eberechi Eze’s Arsenal role
Pardew believes Eze’s suitability for the No.10 position is being complicated by the defensive demands Arteta places on the role, particularly those associated with Martin Odegaard.
“In the way he sets up his No.10, I don’t see Eze getting a lot of action there,” Pardew told talkSPORT.
“There’s a real defensive side to that No.10 position he likes that Martin Odegaard does and Eze doesn’t do. I think Arteta doesn’t feel comfortable with that.”
Pardew also argued that deploying Eze on the left does not necessarily solve the problem. He said the player prefers to move inside rather than remain wide and deliver crosses, potentially leaving Arsenal without sufficient width.
“In certain games, against lesser opposition, Eze will be given that No.10 position,” Pardew said. “But I’ve seen him on that left side for Crystal Palace a few times and it’s just not him.”
He added: “Arteta took him off rightly, in my opinion, as it just wasn’t working. In the first instance, though, perhaps he shouldn’t have started him there, and used him as an impact as a No.10.”
“I don’t think Eze is going to be a starter for Arsenal, I think he’s a sub and if they need a moment, then the manager can give him the last 10-15 minutes of games.”
Arsenal still have a tactical decision to make
Eze’s goal against Lille demonstrated the threat he can offer when operating centrally, while Arteta’s decision against Nottingham Forest was presented as a tactical change rather than a broader judgement on the player.
Madueke’s introduction helped Arsenal break through in a match where Eze had struggled to influence proceedings. The situation leaves Arteta weighing whether to adjust the system to accommodate Eze or ask him to adapt to the defensive requirements of the side.
Playing Eze wide could limit his influence, while replacing Odegaard in the centre would require greater defensive discipline. For now, Pardew believes Eze’s most likely Arsenal role is to provide a late attacking impact rather than start the club’s biggest matches.
