THE NORTH LONDON KING: HOW EBERECHI EZE BECAME A DERBY LEGEND IN FOUR MONTHS
Mikel Arteta insists Eberechi Eze "belongs" at Arsenal as the Gunners continue their historic hunt for a 2026 quadruple.
Mikel Arteta says Eberechi Eze doesn’t need any extra motivation as he settles in at Arsenal after leaving Crystal Palace.
Back in November, Eze made headlines by becoming the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick in a north London derby. He starred last Sunday again, scoring twice as Arsenal tore through Tottenham 4-1.
Still, Eze’s form between those two big games has been up and down. Arteta admits he’s still learning what makes Eze tick, both on the pitch and off it.
“Motivation’s never been an issue,” Arteta said. “Honestly, if you have to motivate a player, you’ve got a problem. Motivation’s just talk; someone can fire you up for a minute, maybe an hour, but that’s it.
“The real motivation for Eze is why he came here in the first place. He really feels like he belongs at this club. Everything else comes down to the moments in your career, especially when you move somewhere new. You’ve got to figure it out and do everything you can to make it work.”
Eze faced some criticism after a mistake in December’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, and since Arsenal beat Wolves in mid-December, he’s only started two league games.
He’s always tended to find his best attacking form later in the season, and Arteta wants to see that happen again, especially with Arsenal still fighting for a historic quadruple.
Arteta hasn’t ruled out moving Eze back to the left wing down the line. “He can do it,” he said. “Now he’s got more experience, more games, and a better sense of what’s needed to make a difference. I hope he really takes off from here until the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s other two goals against Spurs, bringing his total to 15 in all competitions after a slow start since joining from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
Some have started comparing Gyokeres’ numbers to Didier Drogba’s first season at Chelsea. Drogba finished that year with just one more goal and went on to haunt Arsenal for years.
Asked if those comparisons are fair, Arteta shrugged. “It’s always about who you compare with. I might have a beautiful apartment, but if someone else has a mansion, suddenly my place feels small.
“But I can still be proud because I worked hard for my apartment, paid off the debts, fixed it up, and have a great kitchen. Then I visit his mansion and feel bad. It just depends on how you look at things.
“So sure, Viktor can get better. But what he’s done so far matters.”
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.”
