‘TOP PLAYER!’ – MIKEL ARTETAFULL OF PRAISE FOR EBERECHI EZE AFTER FULHAM CLASH
Mikel Arteta says he is "very happy" with Eberechi Eze's performances for Arsenal, despite the £68m summer signing still waiting for his first goal for the club.
After Arsenal defeated Fulham 1-0, Mikel Arteta insisted he was "extremely delighted" with Eberechi Eze's performance.
After moving from Crystal Palace for £68 million during the summer transfer window, Eze has made six Premier League appearances for Arsenal but has yet to score and has recorded two assists.
The 27-year-old found it difficult to contribute at Craven Cottage on Saturday night, and he was substituted in the 62nd minute as Mikel Arteta's team won thanks to a goal from Leandro Trossard in the second half.
Eze can play a variety of positions, and Arteta has stated that the England international will continue to be deployed in various areas of Arsenal's attack while Martin Odegaard is out until mid-November due to a knee injury.
"He is more used to attacking open areas and breaks and facing and carrying the ball with space in front of him; he is so excellent and comfortable doing that," Arteta remarked in response to a question concerning Eze's performance against Fulham.
He had his moments today, putting Viktor through once or twice in excellent positions, and perhaps the outcome would have been slightly different had it ended in a goal.
However, I am rather pleased with his work, and we may utilise him in a variety of capacities. We used him in that one today, and we can keep working to get better.
Trossard scored Arsenal's game-winning goal from close range following Gabriel's flick-on from a corner, and Arteta again applauded his "intuition".
"He is at the right position at the right time and has this ability to create these magical moments when the team needs it the most, which is a huge asset for the squad and a huge weapon for us," Arteta said.
So, I am quite content. We currently have several players in a pretty high emotional state and performance level, which is really fantastic to see, and I think he has been really, really good in recent weeks.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
