Eberechi Eze Faces Arsenal Fight After Limited England Role

Eberechi Eze's battle for regular football has followed him onto the international stage, with the Arsenal attacker seeing limited action for England during the October break. The 28 year old's peripheral role for the Three Lions mirrors his frustrating start to the club season under Mikel Arteta, managing just 85 Premier League minutes so far in 2026/27.

Arteta's reluctance to use Eze has been stark. The player has not started a single league match this term, with his only starts coming in cup competitions. Even when Arsenal were 3-0 down against Brighton recently, Eze was given only the final 17 minutes off the bench. His preferred positions, left-wing and the number 10 role, are occupied by Christos Tzolis and the in-form captain Martin Odegaard. His recent England cameo did little to shift the narrative. After being an unused substitute in a 3-2 Nations League defeat to Spain on September 28, he was introduced at half-time against ten-man Czech Republic on October 1. England won that match 2-0, but the circumstances were tailored for a player of Eze's creativity to dominate, and he failed to seize the moment.

An unexpected opportunity may now arise at club level. Starting left-winger Christos Tzolis suffered a suspected hamstring injury while playing for Greece in their 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on October 3. Tzolis has started every league game for Arsenal this season, so his absence forces Arteta to find a new solution. Eze is the obvious candidate, but the sources indicate the manager has been unconvinced by his previous performances in that role. Arteta is reportedly considering other options, including moving Bukayo Saka over from the right flank, despite Saka's own recent dip in form. This injury presents a clear, if uncertain, pathway for Eze to finally state his case from the start.

The broader picture at the Emirates is one of intense competition. The summer departures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were not fully addressed, with Tzolis the only forward signing. This has left the squad looking light, yet Eze has still been unable to force his way in. His integration into the group appears strong off the pitch, as he was pictured with fellow England internationals and Arsenal teammates Bukayo Saka, Ezri Konsa, and Ethan Nwaneri during the recent camp. On the field, however, he remains a squad player fighting to change the manager's mind. The coming weeks, potentially without Tzolis, will be critical for his future in North London.

• Eze has played only 85 minutes in the Premier League this season, with zero starts.
• He earned a 45-minute run-out for England on October 1, in a 2-0 win over ten-man Czech Republic.
• Arsenal's starting left-winger, Christos Tzolis, picked up a hamstring injury on international duty on October 3.
• Manager Mikel Arteta has previously been reluctant to use Eze as a left-wing solution.