'Very comfortable': Arteta confirms £60m Arsenal star is a left-wing option alongside Tzolis
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that midfielder Eberechi Eze is very comfortable playing as a left winger.
The England international has had limited playing time during the early part of the new campaign.
He has primarily featured on the left wing as a competitor to Christos Tzolis, who has had a fine start to his Gunners career.
Tzolis has been ever-present in the Premier League starting XI, but Eze has got the nod over him in other competitions thus far.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta was asked what Eze brings on the left wing.
The Spanish tactician said that he has ‘always played there in his career’ and his biggest moments have come from the position.
He added that the playmaker is ‘very comfortable’ operating from the left wing role.
Arteta told Arsenal.com: “He’s always played there in his career; that’s where all his biggest moments in his career and the highlights have come, and I think it’s a place that he feels very, very, very comfortable.
“He can occupy different spaces through them, but that’s the space that generally he has created big moments for previous clubs as well to win matches.”
Eze, signed for an initial £60 million last year, came off the bench as an attacking midfielder in the Community Shield but has since exclusively played on the left wing, with Arteta preferring to replace Martin Odegaard with Mikel Merino in the number 10 position.
The 28-year-old made a difference against Aston Villa in the league with a key pass to Riccardo Calafiori, who provided the assist for Bukayo Saka’s winner (1-0 win at Villa Park). He has since had limited impact with just a solitary Carabao Cup assist.
Tzolis, on the other hand, has flourished since his summer switch from Club Brugge. He has already notched up four assists in all competitions, with three of those for Odegaard. He has formed a good understanding with the Norwegian in no time.
The Greek attacker has likewise provided multiple key passes and looks certain to start against Brighton & Hove Albion in the league this afternoon. Eze could still get his opportunity off the bench if Tzolis fails to impact the game as Arteta wants.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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