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Gary Neville Urges Arteta to Start Eberechi Eze for Arsenal

2026-09-04 · Eberechi Eze · Opinion

Gary Neville Urges Arteta to Start Eberechi Eze for Arsenal

Gary Neville has publicly urged Mikel Arteta to start Eberechi Eze for Arsenal's Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday, September 6. The Manchester United legend's call comes after Eze's effective substitute appearance helped secure a 1-0 win at Aston Villa on Monday, August 31.

Should Eze start over Tzolis against Chelsea?

Neville believes Eze's performance off the bench at Villa Park warrants a place in the starting lineup this weekend. He told Sky Sports that he would be stunned if the midfielder did not feature against Xabi Alonso's Chelsea side. The pundit pointed to Eze's greater strength and Premier League experience compared to summer signing Christos Tzolis, who started but was substituted at half-time in the previous match.

"I thought Eze did really well when he came on," Neville said. "I would be surprised if he doesn’t play next week against Chelsea. It’s a big game, and Mikel Arteta might just have to tell Tzolis: I’m not going to put you into this one, but watch this match."

How did Eze impact the win at Aston Villa?

Eberechi Eze entered the game at half-time with the score 0-0. His introduction changed the dynamic in midfield. This contribution was vital in a tight away fixture and demonstrated his ability to influence a game from a central role.

Neville highlighted the competition for places in Arsenal's engine room, noting the presence of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Bruno Guimaraes. He suggested Eze might need to excel in a specific role to secure regular minutes. "I think he may have to get really good at being a left-sided player for Arsenal," Neville added. "Sometimes you just need to look at which positions are opening up for you and basically take it."

What is the context for Arsenal's season?

The victory at Villa Park kept Arsenal perfect after two matches. The upcoming match against Chelsea at the Emirates represents an early test of their title credentials. Arteta's team selection will be scrutinized, with Eze's case for inclusion now strengthened by both performance and external endorsement.

As for Tzolis, Neville reserved judgment, stating he needed a bigger sample size to assess the new arrival. This leaves the door open for Eze to seize his opportunity in a high-profile fixture.

  • Gary Neville has called for Eberechi Eze to start against Chelsea on September 6.
  • Eze came on at half-time and helped create Bukayo Saka's 59th-minute winner in a 1-0 win at Aston Villa on August 31.
  • Arsenal are second in the league, level on points with Manchester City.
  • Neville cited Eze's strength and experience as advantages over new signing Christos Tzolis for the big game.

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