Rooney Delivers Blunt Verdict on Arsenal Star Eze's Season
Wayne Rooney has launched a stinging critique of Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze, asserting that the summer signing has "not been good enough" overall this season, despite his standout performances in the north London derbies. The former Manchester United and England captain made these remarks following Arsenal's emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, a result that restored the Gunners' five-point lead at the top of the Premier League over rivals Manchester City.
Derby Brilliance Masks Broader Struggles
In the match, Eze scored twice alongside Viktor Gyokeres, who also netted a brace, as Arsenal thumped Tottenham in their first game since Thomas Frank's sacking. This win marked Arsenal's second 4-1 triumph over Spurs this season, further cementing their dominance in the rivalry. Rooney acknowledged that Arsenal "showed their class" against what he described as a "not a very good team" in Tottenham, and he praised Eze's display in the derby. However, he was quick to highlight the midfielder's inconsistencies.
Since his £67.5 million move from Crystal Palace last summer, Eze has largely underwhelmed, with five of his six league goals this campaign coming against Tottenham. He was substituted at half-time during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brentford last week and then found himself on the bench for the frustrating 2-2 draw with Wolves. Rooney emphasized that while the Tottenham games have shone a bright light on Eze, his performances in other matches have fallen short.
Questioning Mentality and Consistency
During a discussion on his BBC podcast, host Kelly Somers praised Eze's "mentality" and "character," but Rooney countered with a firm disagreement. He stated, "I disagree a bit because I don't think he's been good enough this season. The two Tottenham games have shined a big light on him, but in other games I've watched him and not thought he's been good enough." Rooney suggested that Eze's lack of consistent playing time might be a factor, but he stressed the need for the player to make it difficult for manager Mikel Arteta to leave him out.
He elaborated, "I think a lot of that is probably through not playing consistently, I get that, but when you talk about mentality and character, if I was him I would be trying to make it very difficult for the manager to leave me out, both with your performances and in training. Clearly he's not doing enough to warrant a place in the team consistently." Rooney also pointed out the competition within the squad, noting that while Martin Odegaard is the captain, Eze must strive to become indispensable.
World Cup Hopes in Doubt
Rooney expressed doubts about Eze's chances of making England's squad for the upcoming World Cup, despite initial expectations at the start of the season. He commented, "I'm not sure Eze will go to the World Cup, but he does give you a different option because he can play on the left or in the No. 10." He added that Eze's versatility could be an asset, but his overall performance needs improvement. Rooney compared Eze to Odegaard, stating, "In terms of at Arsenal, I think Eze is better in the penalty box, but Odegaard is better when he's a bit deeper. He's very clever and picks up some great positions, his movement is very good, you just want to see a bit more from him in the final third."
In a lighter note, Rooney joked, "If you could combine the two of them, you'd have a great player!" This critique comes as Arsenal prepares to continue their Premier League title charge against Chelsea next weekend, while Tottenham faces a crucial match against Fulham to boost their survival hopes. The spotlight remains firmly on Eze as he seeks to prove his worth beyond derby days.
