Martin Keown has delivered a pointed assessment of Eberechi Eze, arguing that the Arsenal midfielder must raise his intensity without the ball if he is to flourish at the Emirates.
Eze’s high-profile move from Crystal Palace in the summer generated considerable optimism. Gifted technically and blessed with close control in tight spaces, he arrived viewed as a player capable of adding unpredictability to Arsenal’s attacking patterns. Yet his first season in north London has been uneven, punctuated by flashes of quality rather than sustained influence.
Keown believes the root of the problem is tactical adaptation rather than talent. Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Arsenal defender suggested Eze is still adjusting to the demands placed on players in Mikel Arteta’s system.
“I just think this is a case of him actually understanding his role and responsibility in the team,” Keown said, pointing to Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw against Brentford, a match in which Eze was withdrawn at half-time.
The contrast with Martin Odegaard’s cameo did not go unnoticed. Keown highlighted the Norwegian’s immediate impact off the bench, particularly in pressing high up the pitch and disrupting Brentford’s build-up play. For Keown, that defensive urgency is non-negotiable at a club competing for major honours.
“So the game against Brentford (1-1 draw which saw him replaced at half-time), I didn’t think he was going to press the ball in the same way that (Martin) Odegaard did, and that’s a very important thing that you do,” he said.
“You keep your opponent at arm’s length, if you go and press at source, you stop them coming at you, Eze wasn’t doing that.
“(Martin) Odegaard immediately did that when he came on, and then of course, you couldn’t get him on the ball.”
At Arsenal, technical ability alone is insufficient. The team’s structure relies heavily on coordinated pressing, rapid counter-pressing and collective discipline. Keown’s view is that Eze must internalise these principles quickly if he is to cement a starting role.
“You’ve got to make your mark at a football club, there’s no time to lose, and I think he’s just making that adaptation, going from Palace to Arsenal,” he added.
Despite the criticism, Keown struck a note of optimism. “Once he understands what’s involved, the work rate, the energy levels, then I can see a big future for him.”
