Although Eberechi Eze played a role in Arsenal winning the Premier League title in just his first season since joining from rivals Crystal Palace and made a name for himself in the North London Derby by embarrassing Tottenham Hotspur, the England international has yet to live up to his price tag.
Eze has been a passenger in most games, and while there are moments of the sheer quality that made him a huge star for Palace, he has not shown the consistency and all-around game that merits a step up to a bigger team like the Gunners.
After a couple of more disappointing displays for the Three Lions over the international break, Manchester United legend Roy Keane decided to take Eze to task, and while Arsenal fans generally don’t care for what a Man United icon has to say about one of their own, the former Premier League midfielder is not wrong at all about the Eze case for the Gunners.
Keane said, via Arsenal News Channel, “When you look at the attacking players and the challenges, and I’m including with Arsenal, sometimes in Eze’s play he can just be a bit sloppy. He needs to bring his A-game. I just worry sometimes players are going, ‘Oh, it’s not my time or he’s better than me’… embrace that challenge that the other players have brought to the England squad and at Arsenal. “Eze seems to just shy away from it. Embrace that and bring your A-game. As I said, I’ve watched him far too many times and there are just too many sloppy moments.”
That is totally true about Eze. Everyone can see from his dribbling ability and shots outside the box, he has the quality. And he was so good for Palace, with three straight seasons of at least 15 goal contributions for the Eagles.
Arsenal have not seen the full Eze. He is almost holding himself back, too scared to take games over, take risks, or be all he can be. And it is telling that Keane is noticing that for England as well; it shows Arsenal fans that their concerns are not at all only in their own heads.
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THE TRIVELA EFFECT
Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won’t be able to guess my favorite team.