Eberechi Eze becomes vital for Arsenal after summer exits

Eberechi Eze has suddenly become one of Arsenal's most important attacking players. The summer exits of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus have left manager Mikel Arteta with fewer options, thrusting Eze into a central role ahead of a major London derby against Chelsea on Sunday, September 6.

Why is Eze so important for Arsenal now?

Arsenal's attack looks very different after the transfer window closed. Martinelli's £60 million move to Al Hilal was confirmed, while Trossard and Jesus also left. The club signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge but failed to add another specialist winger. This leaves Eze, who played 32 Premier League matches last season, with a much bigger responsibility. He is now expected to carry the burden on the left wing, a position where he may need to adapt his natural central game.

Should Eze start against Chelsea?

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has urged Mikel Arteta to pick Eze over Tzolis for the Chelsea game. Neville pointed to Eze's impact off the bench in Arsenal's 1-0 win at Aston Villa on Monday, August 31. Eze came on at half-time for Tzolis and started the play that led to Bukayo Saka's 59th-minute winner. "I would be stunned if Eze doesn’t play next week," Neville said on a Sky Sports podcast. He argued Eze has more strength and Premier League experience for a big game like this.

What did Eze say about Arsenal's new signings?

Following the win at Villa Park, Eze himself highlighted the instant impact of two major summer arrivals. He singled out debutants Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa, who cost a combined £130 million. "They're both special players," Eze said. "They have so much experience in the league. You can see how strong they are. They're warriors." He believes their high quality will make Arsenal stronger as they defend their title. The Gunners have kept clean sheets in both their league games so far, a platform Eze says gives the attackers freedom.

What can Arsenal expect from Eze this season?

Last season provided a foundation. According to Opta Analyst, Eze scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists in 1,817 minutes of Premier League football for Arsenal in the 2025-26 campaign. He started 21 of his 32 appearances. Those are respectable numbers for a player who wasn't always a guaranteed starter. The expectation for the current season will be higher. With Tzolis as the only other obvious left-wing option, Eze's minutes and output are likely to increase significantly. Arteta will need him to take more responsibility in the final third.

• Eze's increased role comes after Arsenal sold Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus this summer.
• Gary Neville has publicly backed Eze to start against Chelsea on September 6 after his game-changing substitute appearance at Aston Villa.
• Eze praised new teammates Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa, calling them "warriors" following their debuts in the 1-0 win on August 31.
• Arsenal's defensive solidity continues, with two clean sheets from two league games providing a platform for their attack.

Arteta now faces a genuine selection dilemma for the Chelsea match. Does he stick with the new signing Tzolis, or reward Eze for his match-winning contribution? With the team sitting second in the standings, level on points with Manchester City, every decision carries extra weight. Eze's performance at Villa Park suggests he is ready for the challenge.