Mikel Arteta was thrilled by Eberechi Eze’s efficiency in opposition to Tottenham final weekend, saying Arsenal purchased him to “determine soccer matches”.
Eze scored a brace in opposition to Spurs to assist Arsenal to a 4-1 win over their north London rivals, which adopted a hat-trick within the reverse fixture.
The 27-year-old has scored every of his final 11 Premier League targets in London, with all six of his targets for Arsenal this season coming in London derbies (one vs Crystal Palace, 5 vs Spurs), the most-ever by a participant in a season with out scoring exterior of London derby video games.
Eze has largely struggled since shifting to Arsenal, being restricted to only 13 begins within the Premier League, although he’s their second-highest scorer this time period, regardless of solely scoring in three video games.
And Arteta has been impressed with Eze’s latest enchancment as he continues to settle in at his new membership.
“You see how gamers react in relation to sure choices you are taking,” Arteta stated of Eze forward of Arsenal’s Premier League assembly with Chelsea.
“Once they have higher video games or sure difficulties. His function has been modified just a few instances all through the season, and his response has all the time been high, however it’s been robust to carry out after, which is what we’d like.
“He’s been distinctive within the method he’s behaving each single day, however what we’d like now’s that these manners are remodeled into large performances that determine soccer matches. That’s the rationale we purchased him.
“To grasp him, you need to perceive how he connects with different gamers and what are the connections we are able to construct in and round him and the areas he’s extra comfy utilizing.
“There are specific behaviours that he has modified dramatically into actually optimistic issues. Ultimately, you don’t know if you’re going to see them in every week, or two, or in a month, however they’re coming.”
Arsenal’s lead on the Premier League summit could possibly be lower to 2 factors by the point they kick off in opposition to Chelsea on Sunday.
That is the fourth time the groups have met in all competitions this season, with Arsenal successful each legs of their EFL Cup semi-final after drawing their final league conflict 1-1.
The Gunners have gained their final three house league video games in opposition to Chelsea, final successful extra consecutively between 1990 and 1994 (5), whereas the Blues are winless of their final eight Premier League video games in opposition to Arsenal (D3 L5).
Within the second leg of the EFL Cup tie, Chelsea sat deep regardless of trailing on mixture earlier than Arsenal snatched a late winner, however Arteta doesn’t wish to dwell on latest outcomes in opposition to Liam Rosenior’s crew.
“What it’s about is the preparation,” Arteta stated. “It provides you confidence and the appropriate emotional state to get to the sport with the assumption that you will win it. Then you need to go and do it.
“Chelsea have performed various things whereas dealing with us. They’ll change all through the sport. They’ve bought the supervisor and gamers who’re comfy doing that. We will likely be ready and attempt to be higher than them.
“There’s nothing else we are able to do. What we did two weeks in the past or two years in the past is irrelevant.”