Wayne Rooney says one in every of Arsenal’s north London derby heroes has ‘not been adequate’ since joining the club.
The Gunners once more asserted their dominance over Tottenham on Sunday, sealing an emphatic 4-1 win – the identical scoreline they won by in the primary derby of the season.
Player of the Match Viktor Gyokeres and former Spurs goal Eberechi Eze each scored twice as Arsenal thumped Tottenham of their first game since Thomas Frank’s sacking.
The convincing victory restored Arsenal’s five-point lead over title rivals Manchester City and increased Spurs’ relegation fears.
Rooney said Arsenal ‘showed their class’ against ‘not a excellent team’ Tottenham and praised Eze’s performance.
But the previous Manchester United and England captain was quick to indicate that Arsenal’s £67.5m summer signing has ‘not been adequate’ overall this season.
While Eze has starred in each north London derbies, he has largely underwhelmed following his move from Crystal Palace, with five of his six league goals coming against Spurs.
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The England international was hooked at half-time during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford last week after which found himself on the bench for the much more frustrating 2-2 draw with Wolves.
After hearing Kelly Somers, the host of his BBC podcast, wax lyrical about Eze’s ‘mentality’ and ‘character’, Rooney responded: ‘I disagree a bit because I don’t think he’s been adequate this season.
‘The 2 Tottenham games have shined an enormous light on him but in other games I’ve watched him and never thought he’s been adequate.
‘I believe quite a lot of that might be through not playing consistently, I get that, but if you speak about mentality and character, if I used to be him I can be attempting to make it very difficult for the manager to go away me out, each together with your performances and in training.
‘Clearly he’s not doing enough to warrant a spot within the team consistently. I get that Martin Odegaard is the captain but you’ve got to make it almost inconceivable for Mikel Arteta to go away you out.
‘After the primary Tottenham game I don’t think he did enough to remain within the team so that you just hope now for him he plays higher consistently to remain in the sport.
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‘I believe he must perform slightly bit higher than he has up to now this season.’
Eze was expected to be a part of England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup at first of the season but Rooney now suspects he’ll miss out.
‘I’m unsure Eze will go to the World Cup but he does offer you a special option because he can play on the left or within the No. 10,’ he added.
‘Perhaps that shall be on Eze’s side because those players are so essential at a World Cup. By way of at Arsenal I believe Eze is best within the penalty box but Odegaard is best when he’s a bit deeper.
‘He’s very clever and picks up some great positions, his movement is excellent, you simply need to see a bit more from him in the ultimate third.
‘In case you could mix the two of them you’d have an amazing player!’
Arsenal proceed their Premier League title charge against Chelsea next weekend, while Tottenham shall be eager to boost their survival hopes against Fulham.
Discussing the north London derby more generally, Rooney said: ‘It was a very good game, Arsenal obviously showed their class and Tottenham are only not a very good team.
‘I just don’t think they’re a very good team. In case you undergo their players and the squad, they’re probably where they ought to be.
‘Obviously they’re an enormous club with a pleasant, latest stadium but I just don’t think the players are adequate to compete on the top-end of the Premier League.
‘I believe Spurs will just be wonderful, I don’t think they’ll get relegated, but they’re down there without delay and they were in the same situation last season.
‘It’s an enormous worry for them, an enormous concern for the club whether or not they stay within the Premier League because they’ve gone backwards.’
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