Stripping away the main caveat – Wigan are out-of-form League One relegation fodder – Sunday’s display from Eberechi Eze felt like the perfect response to criticism aimed at the summer signing after an ineffectual 45-minute cameo at Brentford three days earlier.

Starting in a left-leaning central midfield role, he produced 10 progressive passes, including two that led directly to goals for wingers Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli. He carried the ball, spun in tight spaces and, whenever in range, let fly; six shots in total. He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but the intent was obvious, and his manager was pleased.

“Some superb balls and his intentions – the risk that he took in the final third, the amount of shots that he tried to take as well – that’s really positive. That’s what we want from him,” the manager told his post-game press conference.

Since arriving six months ago, Eze has racked up 2,144 minutes across 35 appearances, scoring five goals and adding six assists. It’s not an insignificant contribution in a midfield packed with talent, but aside from a hat-trick against Sp*rs, he’s rarely looked like the swashbuckling force who carried Crystal Palace to the FA Cup last year.

Is he a victim of Arsenal’s more system-led approach, one that places as much emphasis on control as creativity, the way opponents set up against them, or a mix of both that has led to inconsistency and a dip in confidence?

It’s hard to pinpoint, but the manager is convinced the 27-year-old will play a big role in the final stretch of the season.

“He’s already playing a big role, he’s played a lot of games for us and he will continue to do that.”

As for whether Sunday can serve as a springboard ahead of league games with Wolves and Sp*rs, Arteta admitted it can only help.

“That’s what those players need, those moments and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments, and I’m very happy with that.”

He made clear it wasn’t just about Eze. The way Martinelli clinically finished the chance created for him, having squandered a late opportunity at Brentford, was also welcome.

“Very happy with Gabi as well, the run that he made, the timing of that and then the finish in action, really, really positive. So it’s good for the mood, for the confidence, it’s a really good thing.”

In the absence of Martin Odegaard, Arteta had hoped to give Myles Lewis-Skelly a run in midfield, only for an injury in the warm-up to Riccardo Calafiori to push the academy graduate back into his familiar left-back slot. Instead, the boss paired Bukayo Saka with Eze centrally, an experiment that hinted the former could reprise the role.

“I wanted to try it, and we might use it in the future,” explained the manager.

“There are still so many games, competitions and different scenarios to play in this season, and that’s a possibility that we have.

And on what Saka brings to that role, he continued: “He’s more central, he’s closer to the goal. It’s a bit more difficult for the opponent to get his reference constantly.

“He can interchange positions with a wide player as well, and he’s so good at picking those spaces. When he’s there, he can really hurt you with the ball.” (Arseblog News)

Update news