Freddie Ljungberg questioned Mikel Arteta’s handling of Eberechi Eze following Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Tottenham, calling for the midfielder to be given more starts going forward.
It proved one other dream derby day for Arsenal’s £67.5million summer signing from Crystal Palace, three months on for his hat-trick heroics within the reverse fixture on the Emirates.
The England international made the breakthrough for the Gunners towards the top of the primary half, just for Randal Kolo Muani to make all of it square just two minutes later on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But Viktor Gyokeres restored Arsenal’s advantage just moments after the break and Eze capitalised on some poor Spurs defending to extend the deficit on the hour-mark, capping off a advantageous individual performance.
With the hosts coming up short searching for a response, Arsenal made sure to well and truly put the sport to bed on the death – and it was Gyokeres who made it 4 with a composed strike within the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The result saw Arsenal move five points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City at the highest of the Premier League table with ten games remaining of the season. Arteta’s men will look to choose up where they left off when return to motion at home to Chelsea in every week’s time.
Igor Tudor’s Tottenham, meanwhile, are hovering just 4 points above the relegation zone ahead of their trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham next Sunday afternoon.
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‘He had that belief and I’m really joyful with him,’ Arteta said of Eze’s eye-catching showing within the derby.
‘He’s really attempting to mold and adapt into what we wish from him.’
On Arsenal’s statement victory, the Spaniard added: ‘I’m really joyful, really proud about how we approached the sport.
Arsenal back in control of the title race
An enormous win for Arsenal puts them five points clear at the highest of the Premier League table they usually remain favourites to win the title, despite recent wobbles.
Spurs are usually not the hardest team within the league to play against, however the Gunners were threatening and potent again after looking blunt of late.
They need to have been well ahead on the break and it was only an odd Declan Rice error which meant the sport was level. Mikel Arteta’s men remained calm and kept coming, getting their rewards.
The pressure has been constructing, but Arsenal have eased it with the result and performance, each of which were excellent.
The link-up between Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka was really impressive at Spurs and if Arteta can get those two firing regularly then few defences will find a way to handle them.
It’s curious that Eze has scored five of his six Premier League goals this season against Spurs and has probably not sparkled much outside of the derbies, but clearly he has quite a bit more to supply on this title race.
There are twists and turns to come back before anyone lifts the Premier League trophy, however the gloom hanging over Arsenal since Wolves has been lifted.
It would be one other high intensity affair next trip as Arsenal host Chelsea.
‘The initiative and the standard we showed to come back here and win the sport in the way in which that we did.
‘That’s the great thing about football. Whenever you look back at the sport against Wolves, how did we draw that game from there? I used to be out with them on daily basis and I understand how much they need it.
‘That is the Premier League, it should go all the way in which of course. Ten games within the Premier League is a good distance.’
Viaplay’s punditry panel of Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam and Ljungberg- who boast a combined total of ten Premier League titles – waxed lyrical about Eze’s display as they analysed Arsenal’s victory on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
‘He’s such a sublime player. He’s actually a extremely beautiful player to look at,’ ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Schmeichel said.
‘He’s one in every of those players that you should pay to come back and watch him play.
‘Arsenal haven’t got a lot of those players, but him, it’s sensible when he’s on that sort of form.’
On Eze, Ljungberg added: ‘He’s so ingrained from being at Palace, you will have to at all times create something: you will have a probability, you will have to make something.
‘He does that here and I believe they need to use him greater than they do.’
Former Manchester United and Netherlands defender Stam, meanwhile, believes Eze’s X-factor qualities gave Arsenal something different that they often lack in the ultimate third.
‘It should be a nightmare to play against him. For those who see him move, he’s taking on great positions and he’s so comfortable on the ball,’ he said.
‘He knows what to do and he also has a transparent understanding of what his team-mates are doing as well.
‘He knows them and, together with his one-touch football, he can find them. From there, he creates spaces for his team-mates but in addition for himself.
‘It’s at all times nice whenever you’re playing in a team with those forms of players since it gives you a lot extra, a lot quality technically, but, also, the goalscoring performances that he’s putting out… it’s great to see that.’
Will Arsenal go on and win the Premier League title?
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