Introduction

Eberechi Eze’s arrival at Arsenal has added a fresh layer of creativity, dynamism, and tactical versatility to Mikel Arteta’s evolving side.

He also provides vital cover—and healthy competition—for captain Martin Ødegaard, who has been plagued by injuries this season. Some media reports even warned Ødegaard that Eze could replace him if his form drops.

Since joining from Crystal Palace, Eze has been deployed in multiple positions within Arsenal’s starting 11—a testament to Arteta’s trust in multifunctional players who can switch roles seamlessly to sustain fluid possession, dynamic attacks, and pressing efficiency

Eze has already featured from the left wing, drifting wide repeatedly in matches against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Athletic Bilbao, and Olympiacos in the Champions League.

He has also operated centrally as an attacking midfielder in games against Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur (where he scored a hat-trick), and Bayern Munich, where he played as a number 10 in Arsenal’s emphatic 3–1 win at the Emirates.

With interest surging among fans searching for ‘Arsenal starting 11 with Eze,’ this article dives deep into how Arteta is deploying him, where he fits tactically, and how he has performed in every match this season.

---

Typical Arsenal Starting 11 with Eze

Formation: 4-2-3-1

• Raya
• White – Saliba – Gabriel – Timber
• Rice – Zubimendi
• Saka – Eze – Trossard
• Gyökeres

Eze’s natural position is as a No.10 — operating behind the striker, linking midfield and attack, finding spaces between defenders, and driving creativity in tight areas. Although modern No.10s contribute goals, the position is built around vision, versatility, and the ability to unlock compact defences.

Eze made the majority of his Crystal Palace appearances as an attacking midfielder.

A No.10 must link effectively with the wingers — in this case, Saka and Trossard —, and sometimes with the full backs, offering incisive passes and combinations. They must also connect with overlapping full-backs.

A perfect example was Eze’s recent pass to Riccardo Calafiori, who then delivered a superb cross for Madueke to score against Bayern Munich. Moments like these highlight how naturally Eze fits into this creative hub.

---

Match-by-Match Performance: How Eze Has Played This Season (2024–2025)

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of every match Eze has played for Arsenal, with all stats recorded to date.

---

Manchester United vs Arsenal — 17 August 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Manchester United

• Raya
• White – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Rice – Zubimendi – Ødegaard
• Saka – Gyökeres – Martinelli

Eze’s involvement:
He wasn’t in the squad, as he had not yet signed for Arsenal—though rumours were already rife that he was heading to the Emirates.

Arteta started Ødegaard in the attacking midfield role, and Arsenal secured a 1–0 victory at Old Trafford.

---

Arsenal vs Leeds United — 23 August 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Leeds

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Ødegaard – Zubimendi – Rice
• Saka – Gyökeres – Madueke

Eze was unveiled before kick-off but was not in the squad. He watched from the stands as Arsenal won 5–0. Ødegaard started as the No.10.

This is the true starting point of analysing “Arsenal starting 11 with Eze”.

---

Liverpool vs Arsenal — 31 August 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Liverpool

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Merino – Zubimendi – Rice
• Madueke – Gyökeres – Martinelli

This match created major controversy among Arsenal fans.

With Ødegaard not fully fit, many expected Eze to start. Instead, Arteta appeared to prefer Merino at No.10, creating a midfield dominated by three defensively minded players—at least, according to some sections of the online football fanbase.

Sky Sports had already highlighted Viktor Gyökeres as “one of the most isolated strikers in the league” before Arsenal match against Liverpool, intensifying criticism that Eze’s creativity was missing.

Did benching Eze cost Arsenal the match?

Fans overwhelmingly felt yes. Arsenal had more touches in Liverpool’s box but lacked the final pass. They lost 1–0 despite limiting Liverpool to a handful of chances.

Eze’s 21-minute cameo

• 12 touches
• 9 passes completed
• 1 successful take-on
• 1 shot-creating action (same as Salah in 90 minutes)
• 1 progressive carry
• 1 aerial duel won

Compared to Merino:Merino: 27 touches, 0 take-ons, 1 shot-creating action in 69 minutes.

Remarkably, Eze matched that single shot-creating action in less than a third of the time.

Arteta said Eze wasn’t fully ready, having missed pre-season.

---

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest — 13 September 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Nottingham Forest

• Raya
• Timber – Mosquera – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Ødegaard – Zubimendi – Merino
• Madueke – Gyökeres – Eze

Eze’s first start came on the left wing, not his natural No.10 role. He played 78 minutes, recording his first Arsenal assist.

Key Highlights

• Long ball from Calafiori → Eze timed his run perfectly
• One-touch cross → Gyökeres scored easily from that Eze assist. Eze did nit seem to struggle to make that assist one bit.
• Showed elite spatial awareness to find space behind the opponent’s defender and beat the offside trap
• Eze showcased flawless ball control in tight spaces—his first touch, often the difference between chaos and brilliance, was simply immaculate.

Stats vs Forest

• 1 assist
• 4 shot-creating actions (only Madueke had more: 7)
• 3 successful take-ons
• 1 aerial duel won
• 2 crosses (vs Madueke’s 14)

This match showed that Eze can operate on the wing, but his crossing suggests the left isn’t his strongest side. While not a natural winger, he can fill in when needed—much like Merino has been deployed upfront.

Still, Arsenal’s right wing, with natural wingers Madueke and Saka, has generally looked more effective than the left when Eze plays there. That said, it’s far too soon to write off Eze on Arsenal’s left—he still has plenty of time to make the role his own.

---

Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal — 16 September 2025 (UCL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Athletic Bilbao

• Raya
• Timber – Mosquera – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Rice – Zubimendi – Merino
• Madueke – Gyökeres – Eze

Eberechi Eze started on the left wing against Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, playing 70 minutes, but failed to register a goal or assist as Arsenal won 2-0 at San Mamés.

Stats

• 2 shot-creating actions
• 2 completed take-ons
• 2 ball recoveries
• Joint highest tackles: 3 (along with Timber & Calafiori)
• 2 blocks (joint highest with Rice, Zubimendi, Merino)

He had the third-lowest touches among players over 60 minutes, only ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, and created just two shot-creating chances.

By contrast, Gabriel Martinelli, coming on as a substitute for 20 minutes with only three touches, produced three shot-creating actions, a goal, and an assist. Both Eze and Martinelli completed two take-ons each.

Madueke also outshone Eze in ball progression, covering 172 yards with the ball versus Eze’s 43, despite only playing 19 more minutes. He also registered four ball recoveries and six crosses, compared to Eze’s two recoveries and one cross.

Again, raising the questions, are Martinelli and Madueke more effective as left wingers Is Eze better suited as a No.10 rather than on the wing?

On the defensive side, Eze led the forwards with three tackles won, joint highest with Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, and made two blocks—the highest among forwards, tied with Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino.

---

Arsenal vs Manchester City — 21 September 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 against Manchester City

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Merino – Zubimendi – Rice
• Madueke – Gyökeres – Trossard

For the second big game in a month, Arteta benched Eze despite him being fit. He came on at half-time.

Eze’s 45-minute contribution

• Assisted Martinelli’s 90+3’ equaliser
• 1 shot on target
• 5 progressive passes (only Rice, Timber, and Calafiori had more)
• Dispossessed twice (same as Gyökeres, but in half the minutes)

In Arsenal’s midfield, against Manchester City, Martin Zubimendi operated at No.6, Declan Rice at 8, and Mikel Merino at No.10.

Eberechi Eze played just 45 minutes, rotating between right midfield, attacking midfield, defensive midfield, and central midfield.

Even in limited time, he showed the ability to drop closer to Arsenal’s defense, creating space for attackers higher up the pitch—especially effective against low-block opponents, as seen against Manchester City, where Arsenal controlled 66% of possession.

Despite coming off the bench, Eze delivered the decisive assist for Arsenal’s 90+3’ equalizer, setting up Martinelli and rescuing a point in a 1-1 draw.

The pass was so good that even David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães couldn’t help congratulating Eze, choosing to celebrate with him while everyone else sprinted toward Gabriel Martinelli, the goalscorer.

Fans were thrilled by the precise, deep pass that split City’s defense. Eze also registered one shot on target, matching only Madueke and Martinelli in this metric for Arsenal.

On the creative side, Eze completed five progressive passes—passes advancing the ball toward the opposition’s goal—surpassed only by Declan Rice (8), Jurrien Timber (7), and Riccardo Calafiori (8).

However, he was dispossessed twice in 45 minutes; for context, Gyokeres was also dispossessed twice but played the full 90 minutes.

---

Port Vale vs Arsenal — Carabao Cup

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 against Port Vale

• Kepa
• White – Saliba – Mosquera – Lewis-Skelly
• Merino – Nørgaard – Nwaneri
• Saka – Eze – Martinelli

Eze started and played 80 minutes, scoring his first Arsenal goal.

Stats

• 1 goal
• 2 shots on target (highest in team)
• 3 tackles won (highest in team)
  Arsenal won 2–0.

He played mainly as a central attacking midfielder, and scored his first goal for the club from two shots on target.

He led Arsenal in shots on target, ahead of Nwaneri and Trossard, who each had one. Beyond scoring, Eze also topped the team in tackles won with three, with Saliba close behind on two.

Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory by the final whistle.

---

Newcastle United vs Arsenal — 28 September 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Arsenal starting 11 against Newcastle United

• Raya
• Timber – Mosquera – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Rice – Zubimendi
• Saka – Eze – Trossard
• Gyökeres

Eze started in his preferred No.10 role against Newcastle United at St James’s Park.

Stats vs Newcastle

• 2 shots on target (highest in team)
• 2 take-ons (only Saka & Timber had more: 3 each)
• 5 recoveries (joint highest with Saka & Rice)
• 2 dispossessions (most in team)

Eberechi Eze was flanked by Saka on the right and Leandro Trossard on the left, and even spent a few minutes playing on the left wing.

He played the full 90 minutes and registered two shots on target—the most among Arsenal players in the match.

After the match, Saka was waxing lyrical about his England teammate, admitting he had been wondering why Eze hadn’t made the scoresheet sooner—and attributing it to the superb form of Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Saka said, “Not many keepers save that.”

In terms of dribbling, only Bukayo Saka (3) and Jurrien Timber (3) completed more take-ons than Eze (2).

Eze also recovered the ball five times, joint highest with Saka and Declan Rice.

However, Eze had little impact on goal creation—despite Arsenal’s thrilling 2-1 comeback, he neither scored nor assisted.

Eze was dispossessed twice—the most among Arsenal players—while Timber, Gyokeres, Saka, and Zubimendi were dispossessed only once each.

Overall, only Newcastle’s Joelinton (8) recorded more ball recoveries than Eze, highlighting his work rate even in a match where Arsenal staged an exciting comeback.

---

Arsenal vs Olympiacos — 1 October 2025 (UCL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 against Olympiacos

• Raya
• White – Saliba – Gabriel – Lewis-Skelly
• Ødegaard – Zubimendi – Merino
• Trossard – Gyökeres – Martinelli

Eberechi Eze played just 18 minutes against Olympiacos in the Champions League, as Arsenal secured a 2-0 win.

Mikel Arteta started Martin Ødegaard at No.10, and Ødegaard created a goal, justifying his selection.

With only 10 touches, Eze had limited involvement, making it difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions about his performance in this game.

---

Arsenal vs West Ham — 4 October 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs West Ham

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Ødegaard – Rice – Eze
• Saka – Gyökeres – Trossard

Stats

• 4 shots (highest in match)
• 1 shot on target (joint highest)
• 4 shot-creating actions (only Saka had more: 5)
• 3 tackles (only Timber had more: 4)

Eberechi Eze played 78 minutes, alternating between left and right midfield. He led Arsenal in attempted shots on goal with four and was joint-high in shots on target (1) alongside Gyokeres, Timber, and Declan Rice.

Eze also created four shot-creating actions—second only to Bukayo Saka (5) and level with Gyokeres—and won three tackles, just behind Timber (4) and Zubimendi (3).

---

Fulham vs Arsenal — 18 October 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Fulham at Craven Cottage.

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Eze – Zubimendi – Rice
• Saka – Gyökeres – Trossard

Eze played 61 minutes against Fulham, registering one attempted shot with none on target.

• 1 attempted shot
• 1 successful take-on
  A quiet match overall.

Eze attempted two take-ons, completing one successfully. Overall, it was a relatively quiet game for Eze.

---

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid — 21 October 2025 (UCL)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Arsenal starting 11 vs Atletico Madrid

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Lewis-Skelly
• Zubimendi – Rice
• Saka – Eze – Martinelli
• Gyökeres

Eze played 72 minutes against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League at the Emirates, registering two shots.

Stats

• 2 shots
• 5 shot-creating actions (joint highest with Zubimendi)
• 1 aerial duel won
  A relatively quiet but disciplined game.

Alongside Zubimendi, he created five shot-creating actions, second only to Martinelli (6). He won one aerial duel, matching Martinelli and Lewis Skelly, with only Mikel Merino winning more (2). Aside from these contributions, Eze had a relatively quiet game.

---

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace — 26 October 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Arsenal starting 11 vs Crystal Palace

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Zubimendi – Rice
• Saka – Eze – Trossard
• Gyökeres

Against his former club, Eze played 87 minutes and scored the winning goal, showing class by choosing not to celebrate.

Stats

• 2 shots
• 1 shot on target
• 1 shot-creating action
• 1 successful tackle
  Eze won Man of the Match.

Operating mainly as an attacking midfielder just behind striker Gyokeres, he attempted two shots, with one on target, and created one shot-creating action. Declan Rice led Arsenal with four shot-creating actions.

Eze also completed one successful take-on, the joint-highest for Arsenal, and won one tackle, compared to Rice’s three. His overall performance earned him Man of the Match as Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory.

---

Arsenal vs Brighton — 29 October 2025 (Carabao Cup)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Brighton

• Kepa
• White – Mosquera – Hincapié – Lewis-Skelly
• Merino – Nørgaard – Nwaneri
• Dowman – Eze – Annous

Eze played 82 minutes.

Stats

• 2 shots
• 0 shots on target
• 1 foul committed
• 1 foul drawn
• 1 offside
• 1 cross

Arsenal fielded a rotated side as part of Mikel Arteta’s squad management.

Eze registered two attempted shots, none on target, committed one foul, drew one, went offside once, and made one cross. He was substituted in the 83rd minute for Leandro Trossard.

---

Burnley vs Arsenal — 1 November 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Burnley

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Eze – Zubimendi – Rice
• Saka – Gyökeres – Trossard

Eze played 71 minutes against Burnley in the Premier League as Arsenal secured a 2-0 win at Turf Moor. He

Stats

• 1 successful take-on
• 4 fouls drawn (most in the match)
• 4 recoveries (Only Rice & Saliba had more)

Eze completed one successful take-on, second only to Trossard (2).

Eze was also the most fouled Arsenal player, drawing four fouls, and recovered the ball four times, behind only Declan Rice (9) and William Saliba (5).”

---

Slavia Praha vs Arsenal — 4 November 2025 (UCL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Slavia Praha

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Hincapié
• Nwaneri – Nørgaard – Rice
• Saka – Merino – Trossard

Eze played 26 minutes as a right midfielder in Arsenal’s 3-0 away win over Slavia Praha at the Fortuna Arena.

Stats

• 6 touches
• 3 passes completed
  A quiet game as Arsenal won 3–0.

He had a quiet outing, registering just six touches and completing three passes, leaving little to assess from his brief involvement.

---

Sunderland vs Arsenal — 8 November 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Sunderland

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
• Eze – Zubimendi – Rice
• Saka – Merino – Trossard

Eze played 87 minutes as an attacking midfielder in Arsenal’s hard-fought draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Stats

• 4 attempted shots (most in team)
• 1 shot on target
• 2 shot-creating actions
  Overall, a quiet match in a 2–2 draw.

He led the team in attempted shots with four, though only one was on target. Eze also created two shot-creating actions, behind Trossard (4), Rice (4), Saka (3), Zubimendi (3), and Calafiori (3). Overall, his performance was relatively quiet across other metrics.

---

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur — 23 November 2025 (EPL)

Formation: 4-3-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Tottenham Hotspurs

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Hincapié – Calafiori
• Eze – Zubimendi – Rice
• Saka – Merino – Trossard

Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates was arguably Eze’s best performance in an Arsenal shirt.

He played the full 90 minutes and scored a hat-trick—a moment of poetic justice, given he was reportedly close to joining Tottenham before calling Mikel Arteta at the last minute to join his childhood club instead.

Stats

• 4 shots on target
• 1 goal-creating action
• 2 fouls drawn
• 2 interceptions
• 4 recoveries

Eze had four shots on target and created one goal-scoring opportunity, only behind Timber and Merino. He drew two fouls—second only to Saka and Merino—and made two interceptions, with only Calafiori ahead. Eze also recovered the ball four times, behind Saka, Trossard, Hincapie, and Rice.

By netting three goals, Eze became the first player to score a hat-trick in the North London Derby since 1978, helping Arsenal secure a 4-1 victory.

---

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich — 26 November 2025 (UCL)

Formation: 4-2-1-3

Arsenal starting 11 vs Bayern Munich

• Raya
• Timber – Saliba – Mosquera – Lewis-Skelly
• Zubimendi – Rice
• Eze
• Saka – Merino – Trossard

Eze played 80 minutes against Bayern Munich, registering one assist but no shots on target or successful take-ons.

Stats

• 1 assist
• 0 shots on target
• 0 successful take-ons
• 21 touches (vs Rice 64, Merino 33)
• 3 fouls drawn (most in team)

Eze was less involved than usual, with just 21 touches compared to Rice’s 64 and Merino’s 33—players positioned on either side of him. Despite this, Eze was the most fouled Arsenal player in the match, drawing three fouls.

---

Eze’s Tactical Role in Arsenal’s System

Eze has been used both as a No.10 and as a left winger so far in the Arsenal team under Mikel Arteta.

In possession, he tends to drift between central, right, and left attacking midfield, providing close control and vertical penetration.

It’s easy to see why some Arsenal fans wouldn’t mind a double-pivot midfield of Eze and Ødegaard, supported by Zubimendi or Declan Rice in the No.6/holding role. It creates a well-balanced midfield, to say the least.

One is left-footed and the other right-footed, yet both have been among the most creative minds in English football for several seasons—long before they ever played in the same team.

Out of possession, Arteta demands that Eze press aggressively, no matter where he starts. In this regard, he faces stiff competition from Ødegaard, who occupies a similar position but is a relentless presser—constantly chasing defenders and goalkeepers to force turnovers and disrupt the opposition’s build-up.

---

How Eze Changes Arsenal’s Attacking Dynamics

• Unpredictability: Eze’s 1v1 ability creates space for Saka and Martinelli, pulling defenders out of position.
• Better transitions: A capable passer even from deep, he delivers accurate long balls to quickly move Arsenal from defence to attack.
• Goal threat: Eze has already scored several goals for Arsenal, though he has also been unlucky and could have scored more. He consistently finds dangerous goal-scoring spaces and strikes with significant power—an increasingly essential skill for modern attacking midfielders.

A video made the rounds on social media showing England internationals stunned by Eberechi Eze’s physical-strength score. In the clip, players were measured by repeatedly jumping on a pressure scale while keeping their hands on their waists to prevent momentum-boosting swings.

The caption read: ‘When Eze shocked England internationals with his strength and power.

---

Areas Where Eze Can Still Improve

Eze sometimes loses possession when attempting to dribble through tight spaces—a common challenge for players in his position, particularly when opponents swarm him.

---