Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended his decision to replace Eberechi Eze at half-time during Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford, citing the need for a different midfield profile to combat the hosts’ physical pressing style.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that tactical requirements drove his decision to replace Eberechi Eze with Martin Odegaard at half-time in Arsenal’s frustrating draw with Brentford. The manager noted that the physical nature of the game and Brentford’s high-intensity approach required a change in the Gunners’ midfield structure.
Eze was making his first Premier League start since mid-December but struggled to influence the contest during a tricky first half. Arteta has explained that creative players often struggle when the ball is not on the ground, prompting him to introduce Odegaard to cause more problems for the Bees’ defence.
The stats highlighted Eze’s struggles at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Football.London reporting that the England international recorded zero successful dribbles and zero chances created. He managed just 17 touches and failed to complete a single pass in the final third before being hauled off.
Former England striker Peter Crouch, speaking to The Mirror, described the midfielder as a passenger for the first 45 minutes. It was the second time this season that Arteta has opted to bring Eze off at half-time, following a similar tactical change against Aston Villa in December.
Despite the early exit, Arteta has defended the overall form of the summer signing and acknowledged the challenges of adapting to a new club. Eze has registered five goals and two assists since his £67.5m move from Crystal Palace, but pundits suggest he has yet to fully master Arsenal’s complex tactical system.
The club’s official match report confirmed that while Odegaard’s introduction changed the flow of the game, Arsenal could only secure a point. Noni Madueke finally opened the scoring in the 61st minute, but the result represents a major blow to the club’s Premier League title aspirations.
Arteta now faces a decision over his midfield selection for the next few games as he looks to integrate Eze more effectively. The manager remains confident in the player’s ability but stressed that specific match scenarios will continue to dictate his personnel choices on the pitch.
