%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Mikel Arteta opted for an Eberechi Eze-less lineup against Man City, and unfortunately for the half of the game, his absence was noted.
That was the worst first half of football Arsenal fans have sat through for a few years now. Arsenal were passive, and they let Man City outplay them on their own turf.
Thankfully, it didn't take long for Mikel Arteta to realize he'd shot himself in the feet with that lineup. Then, at half-time, Arsenal's game-changers entered the pitch. Ultimately, Gabriel Martinelli, yet again, got Arsenal the goal they deserved.
Gabriel Martinelli did what Eberechi Eze was trusted to do in the first few games and, interestingly, it was actually Eze operating in a quarterback position which set the goal up for Martinelli.
Eberechi Eze should have started the match. Dropping him from the start was not the right call. However, his performance in the second half did the talking for Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta just sent a crystal clear Eberechi Eze message
Eberechi Eze finally played in the position which suits him best - the midfield. After trying him out on the left and failing in that experiment, Mikel Arteta finally swallowed his pride and played Eze in his most comfortable position.
This saw Eze with more of the ball, and he was excellent in Arsenal's transitional play. The Gunners were more attacking in the second half, and a large part of it was Eze carrying the ball forward from midfield. His creativity paid dividends, with that eventual assist to Gabriel Martinelli.
Look, Eze will receive his critics because he wasn't involved in the scoresheet. However, his performance proved a point to Arteta, and it can only be a good thing going forward.
For Arteta to keep Trossard, the natural left-winger, on the pitch after Eze had come on was a real statement, and a sign of what's to come from Eze.
Nobody can deny that the Eze-on-the-left experiment was a gruelling one of Arsenal fans to sit through. It was similar to when Arteta used Havertz out of position at the start of last season.
Unlike with Havertz, though, Arteta realized the mistake early on and he's now moved Eze back into his strongest position.
It wasn't a great result for Arsenal. They really should've aimed for a win, if they're to challenge for the Premier League this season. However, it wasn't to be.
Looking ahead, the Gunners play Newcastle away from home next weekend, after a midweek trip to face Port Vale in the EFL Cup. Surely, Eze will be involved in both of those matches, through the middle of the pitch.