Eze Shines in North London Derby, Arteta Optimistic for Upcoming Challenges

Eberechi Eze made headlines this summer with his £67.5 million ($88 million) transfer from Crystal Palace to Arsenal, generating enthusiasm among fans about his potential impact on Mikel Arteta’s attacking lineup. While Eze had shown promising signs, supporters eagerly anticipated a breakout performance, which arrived on Sunday during the team’s impressive 4-1 victory over Tottenham.

As a lifelong Arsenal fan, Eze expressed his joy regarding both his personal contributions and the team’s success against their rivals. In an interview with Sky Sports, he shared, “That’s a good feeling. Enjoyable day, happy to help the team, and to win today is special. It feels special, man. I’m grateful again; this is what I pray for. I prayed for it today, a hat-trick, and I got it today, so I’m grateful to God.”

Manager Mikel Arteta echoed Eze’s enthusiasm following the north London derby triumph. Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day, he remarked, “It’s a very special day for us. We knew the importance of the match and what it means to our fans. To be able to give them that joy is a beautiful day. We dominated every part of the game, created massive chances, and had a lot of actions that were very close to scoring. We stayed patient; whoever we put in there does the job for us. This squad has the belief and quality to deliver consistently.”

Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has suggested that Eze could secure a starting position in next year’s World Cup. He believes that if Thomas Tuchel opts to employ a number 10, Eze is ideally suited for the role, despite competition from players such as Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers.

Sherwood stated, “We can get a bit carried away because he scored a hat-trick in the North London derby, but it’s massive for Eze and for Arsenal. If you asked me before who is the most talented number 10 in England, I would say Eze. He’s quick, plays with both feet, and possesses vision. If we’re going to play with a number 10, it has to be Eze.”

When asked about the significance of scoring against Tottenham, a club he nearly joined this summer, Eze sidestepped the question, yet Sherwood lauded his poise in handling the atmosphere, saying, “Credit to the boy; he didn’t seem bothered by the noise surrounding that game. He took it on his shoulders, and big players do that.”

While Arteta was naturally pleased with Eze’s performance, he recognized that the former Queens Park Rangers star could have netted more goals. He emphasized the importance of having a player capable of creating “magic moments.” Arteta remarked, “To be fair, he could have scored four or five. He’s a big player who can create those moments that unbalance a team. We have really good momentum, but it’s essential to recognize the difficulty of every Premier League game. It’s a long journey; let’s take it one game at a time. Let’s enjoy tonight, then we face Bayern Munich here and Chelsea away; it will be a tough week.”

While one significant challenge has been impressively overcome, Arsenal is set to face an even greater test on Wednesday against a formidable Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Following that, the table-topping Gunners will travel to second-placed Chelsea in a crucial Premier League showdown.