The wow factor that followed Eberechi Eze everywhere he played has gone strangely quiet. The Arsenal forward has managed just one goal in nine appearances in all competitions this season — and after being hooked at half-time in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, questions are mounting over whether he can rediscover the magic that once defined him.
Eberechi Eze (Credits: BBC) – the stats behind the slump are stark.
The Forest Alarm Bells
That Forest game was Eze’s first Premier League start of the season, but it lasted just 45 minutes. He completed a mere nine passes and 22 touches before being replaced at the break. For a player once known for his off-the-cuff skill and maverick flair, the numbers were damning.
It isn’t the first time his place in the squad has been questioned. After switching off for Matty Cash’s opener in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in December 2025, Eze spent the next four league matches on the bench. Even England boss Thomas Tuchel has referenced the 28-year-old “coming back to his true shape and form” in training — a telling admission that he hasn’t been at his best.
A Role That Doesn’t Fit
Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson believes the root of the problem is positional. At Crystal Palace, Eze shone in a narrow number 10 role — the same role where he scored the winner in the 2025 FA Cup final against Manchester City. But at Arsenal, captain Martin Odegaard owns that spot, and Eze has been shuffled out to the left wing — a position Upson says doesn’t suit him at all.
“Finding his role and position has been challenging,” Upson said. “He’s filling in a bit on the left-hand side, which I don’t think particularly suits him… knowing your role when you’re at a club like Arsenal is so important.”
There is some hope. With Christos Tzolis sidelined by a hamstring injury picked up on international duty, a left-wing opening exists — and Eze did score from the left in the Champions League win over Lille. But until he nails down a defined role and matches the intensity of Mikel Arteta’s system, the dazzling Palace version of Eze will remain a memory rather than a reality.
Also Read: Noni Madueke’s Late Deflected Strike Enough as Arsenal Edge Out Nottingham Forest 1-0 | Saka Answers Arteta’s Challenge With Stunning Impact as Arsenal Beat Lille 3-0
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.