Martin Ødegaard
January 2026
Odegaard was a surprise omission from Arsenal’s squad against Chelsea and was not even on the bench. Arteta said he had picked up an untimely knock before kickoff, forcing a reshuffle. Eze started in the No.10 role, with Arsenal opting not to risk Odegaard after the late issue emerged.
Oliver Glasner
January 2026
Glasner publicly attacked Palace’s board after news of a deal to sell captain Guehi to City emerged just before a match, describing the squad as abandoned and hinting at deeper frustration ahead of his own exit at season end. With limited squad availability and ongoing uncertainty, the timing of the Guehi sale became the flashpoint, and Glasner used post-match comments to defend players and condemn the lack of support, with further departures also being discussed around the club.
Eberechi Eze
January 2026
Mikel Arteta has challenged Eberechi Eze after leaving him out in recent league matches despite his strong early-season impact following a £60m move from Crystal Palace. Eze has not played in Arsenal’s last three Premier League games. Arteta said he manages minutes based on physical and emotional state, pointing to Eze playing more football than ever at this stage of a season. With Trossard and Odegaard preferred recently, Eze must raise certain elements to force his way back in.
Eberechi Eze
November 2025
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood insists Eberechi Eze has to start for England at the World Cup if Thomas Tuchel uses a number 10, arguing the Arsenal playmaker is now the country’s best attacking midfielder after his hat-trick in the 4-1 rout of Spurs. Eze, who joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace in a big summer move, said he had prayed for a derby hat-trick and was grateful to deliver in such a statement win. Arteta hailed the performance and control as Arsenal dominated Spurs, reinforcing Eze’s case for a central England role.
Thomas Frank (Spurs)
November 2025
Tottenham suffered a bruising 4-1 defeat away to Arsenal, producing one of their worst displays of the season as Eberechi Eze hit a hat-trick, Spurs generated an expected goals figure of just 0.07 and rarely threatened their fiercest rivals. Thomas Frank admitted the performance was the complete opposite of his intentions, apologised to supporters, criticised Spurs for losing too many duels and failing to escape Arsenal’s press, and warned their recurring lack of creativity, also seen against Chelsea, must be fixed quickly.
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
November 2025
Eberechi Eze has picked Kevin De Bruyne as the hardest opponent he has faced in the Premier League, highlighting the Belgian’s intelligence, consistency and ability to solve problems on the pitch before his summer switch from Manchester City to Napoli. Speaking on GOAL’s Beast Mode On podcast, Eze described De Bruyne as a “high-level thinker” who always seemed two steps ahead, praising a decade of elite output in England and acknowledging that even as an admirer growing up, facing him live underlined how special he is.
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
October 2025
Eze says a final call to Arteta settled his switch after Spurs had advanced terms. A boyhood Arsenal fan and academy alum, he joined the Gunners a day after Tottenham talks peaked. Arteta praised Eze’s desire and transparency. The move immediately endeared him to Emirates supporters as he debuted before a buoyant home crowd.
Thomas Tuchel (England)
September 2025
England beat Andorra 2-0 but failed to impress as Thomas Tuchel publicly criticised forwards Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze. He described their wastefulness as the reason England did not produce a convincing scoreline against the 174th-ranked side. Tuchel admitted the team controlled the match but lacked sharpness in attack. He said Rashford missed key finishes, Madueke lacked clinical passing, and Eze struggled as a No.10. Despite satisfaction with effort, Tuchel stressed England should have comfortably won by four or five goals.
Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)
August 2025
Former defender James Tomkins has warned Arsenal that signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace might not be enough to secure a Premier League title. The Gunners sensationally hijacked Tottenham’s pursuit, sparking optimism, but Tomkins insists more reinforcements are needed to close the gap. Arsenal have finished second four times under Mikel Arteta despite consistent progress. Eze’s arrival adds flair and depth, but Tomkins notes Liverpool’s ten-point margin last season highlights the scale of the challenge, urging Arsenal to strengthen further to avoid falling short once again.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
August 2025
Bukayo Saka will miss up to a month with a hamstring injury, ruling him out of Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool. Martin Odegaard is also a doubt after hurting his shoulder against Leeds but should avoid a lengthy layoff. Scans revealed Saka’s issue was less severe than feared, but his absence remains a major blow. Odegaard was seen in a sling, raising doubts for Anfield. Arsenal will lean on new signings Gyokeres and Eze to offset their captain and star winger’s losses.