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Eberechi Eze has found playing time hard to come by this season. He is getting more of a run-out for England than he is with Arsenal, which goes to show the standards Arsenal holds itself to.
This was meant to be the season Eze got a chance to improve at Arsenal. After all, Mikel Arteta offloaded two left-wingers and only brought in one replacement, leaving many to think Eze was the natural second choice at left-wing.
If he were, he would be getting chance after chance with Christos Tzolis, currently out injured. However, Noni Madueke was given a shot at the weekend, and he impressed.
Mikel Arteta calls 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill to the first team
Ahead of the Champions League fixture against Lille tonight, Mikel Arteta has called Ceadach O'Neill up to the first team. The 18-year-old was born in Northern Ireland, and his strongest position is at centre-forward, but he is capable of playing on either wing - I'd imagine he has a better chance of making the Arsenal team out wide than through the middle.
Understand that 18-year-old pair Ceadach O'Neill and Maalik Hashi are in Arsenal's Champions League squad vs Lille tonight. O'Neill typically plays as a winger or No10. Hashi is a centre mid #afc
— Isaan Khan (@IsaanKhan_) October 13, 2026
Of course, context matters. The Champions League allows for a much deeper bench than the Premier League, which is often why Arsenal name youth players on their bench in Europe. It provides an excellent opportunity for Champions League appearances, which most players in the world cannot even boast even after hanging up their boots.
O'Neill won't start tonight, and the chances of him even coming off the bench are slim - but they're not nothing. Arteta has set a precedent for giving young players a chance in the past, so he's not opposed to doing it again. It's how we all became familiar with Max Dowman, after all.
Eze is in line to start tonight. It's one of the more contentious positions, but given he was fully rested at the weekend could imply he's on the team sheet tonight.
Eze started in Arsenal's last Champions League game against Napoli, but he didn't play the entire match. This is probably the plan again tonight, unless he pulls his act together and gets back in form.
He is certainly a player on thin ice, and someone who needs to turn it around before his chances in the first time get slimmer and slimmer. Including O'Neill on the bench is a statement, and it should be a warning to Eze that if he doesn't take opportunities, there are plenty of other grateful players who will.
Of course, I would love to eat my words after an Eze masterclass in the Champions League tonight. Here's to hoping.
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