Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp has suggested that Mikel Arteta's inherent caution is the reason behind Eberechi Eze's lack of game time at Arsenal. The pundit made the claim following the Gunners' hard-fought 3-2 victory away at Bournemouth on Saturday, which sent them six points clear at the Premier League summit.
Arteta's Cautious Substitutions Under Scrutiny
The match at the Vitality Stadium was a rollercoaster. Bournemouth took a shock lead after just 10 minutes when a misplaced pass from Gabriel Magalhaes was intercepted by Evanilson, who finished easily with David Raya stranded. Arsenal defender Gabriel made amends by heading in an equaliser six minutes later.
The game turned after the break with a second-half double from Declan Rice putting the visitors in control. However, a superb strike from Junior Kroupi set up a nervy finale, which Arsenal managed to see out to secure a crucial three points.
While the result was positive, attention turned to Arteta's bench. Summer signing Eberechi Eze, a £67.5 million acquisition, was an unused substitute for the fourth consecutive Premier League match. Redknapp, analysing the game for Sky Sports, believes the manager's mindset in tight games is the key factor.
Redknapp's Analysis of Arteta's Mindset
"They're bringing on [Mikel] Merino towards the end of the game and he's [Arteta] not looking around to bring on Eze or Myles Lewis-Skelly to go and win the game 4-2 or 5-2," Redknapp observed.
"He's thinking, 'I want to keep hold of what I've got'. That's the sort of manager he is, I don't think he's going to be that expansive." This tactical conservatism, according to Redknapp, could mean Eze continues to struggle for minutes when named among the substitutes in close contests.
Merson Compares Arsenal Squad to Fergie's United
Fellow pundit Paul Merson offered a different perspective, focusing on the sheer strength in depth now available to Arteta. He drew a flattering comparison to the legendary Manchester United squads assembled by Sir Alex Ferguson.
"Their squad is so strong, it's so, so strong," Merson said. "The three substitutions that came on remind me of the old Sir Alex Ferguson Man United teams. I played in a Villa game once against Man United and I think they brought on [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy, [Paul] Scholes and [Ryan] Giggs and you're like, 'oh really'."
Merson highlighted how Arsenal's composure grew as the Bournemouth game progressed, ultimately allowing them to dictate play and grind out the result despite not being at their vintage best.
The victory leaves Arsenal in a commanding position at the top of the table, but the discussion around Arteta's management of his expensive attacking talent, particularly Eberechi Eze, is unlikely to fade while the player remains on the sidelines.
