Rio Ferdinand Analyzes Eberechi Eze's Adaptation at Arsenal
Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has sparked discussion by claiming that Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze is "sacrificing parts of his game" under manager Mikel Arteta's tactical system. Ferdinand's comments come despite Eze's recent standout performance in the North London Derby.
Eze's Derby Heroics Amid Adaptation Questions
Eze continued his remarkable record against Tottenham Hotspur with a stunning brace in Arsenal's comprehensive 4-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. The double took his personal tally to five goals in his last two matches against Spurs, following his hat-trick heroics in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium three months earlier.
The victory extended Arsenal's lead at the Premier League summit to five points over second-placed Manchester City, who had defeated Newcastle United 2-1 the previous day. While Eze's contribution proved decisive, Ferdinand believes the England international represents only a shadow of the player who helped Crystal Palace win the FA Cup last season.
Ferdinand's Tactical Analysis
Analyzing Arsenal's victory on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand expressed concern about Eze's positioning and freedom within Arteta's system. "I thought, up until the goal, he was quiet. He just had two moments in the game," Ferdinand observed about Eze's performance against Tottenham.
The former defender elaborated on his tactical assessment: "I just think his actual starting position is too high. I know he's doing that to pin back the Spurs backline... but it's actually going against him and being able to perform. Eze needs to face the game. He needs to see the game, face it and start probing."
Ferdinand emphasized that Eze requires more freedom to utilize his creative abilities fully: "[He needs to] play one-twos, draw opponents out of their positions, 'Come and press me', and then play beyond them and run, a bit like he did for the second goal."
Comparisons to Jack Grealish's Experience
Ferdinand drew parallels between Eze's situation and that of Jack Grealish, who left Aston Villa for Manchester City in a British-record transfer in 2021. According to the six-time Premier League winner, title-chasing teams often require creative players to modify their natural games.
"I think he's playing more for the team than for himself," Ferdinand continued. "If you're going to win championships, sometimes you have to sacrifice parts of your game to do that. Jack Grealish sacrificed parts of his game for the benefit of the Manchester City team. He didn't look as good as he did at Aston Villa."
Despite his concerns, Ferdinand acknowledged Eze's quality: "I think he's a wonderful player and he's a player that I'd pay to watch right now, 100 percent with Eze. But I don't know if we're seeing it to the same extent but we're still probably yet to see the Crystal Palace Eze in an Arsenal shirt."
Arteta's Perspective and Selection Dilemmas
Following Eze's brace against Spurs, Arteta praised the midfielder's adaptation to Arsenal's style of play. "He had that belief and I'm really happy with him," the Arsenal head coach stated. "He's really trying to mold and adapt into what we want from him."
Eze's starting opportunity came partly due to Martin Odegaard's fitness problems, with the Norwegian making only a cameo appearance against Tottenham after Eze had been a substitute in the previous match against Wolves. The substantial transfer fee Arsenal paid to secure Eze from Crystal Palace last summer has led to questions among supporters about his somewhat underwhelming overall return this campaign.
As Arsenal prepares to host Chelsea this weekend, Arteta faces selection decisions with Odegaard potentially returning to full fitness. Eze will be eager to maintain his place in the starting lineup and build upon his derby performance, while Ferdinand's analysis continues to fuel debate about how best to utilize the midfielder's considerable talents within Arsenal's system.
