Mikel Arteta paints the harsh reality of Eberechi Eze's first year at Arsenal

Arsenal stumbled again, this time against Brentford in a game that they should have won, especially due to what happened the night before.

Manchester City made light work of Fulham to move within three points of the leaders in the league table. Arsenal then have the ball in their court - whether to cause another twist in this Premier League race, or to keep business as usual and stretch the lead back to six points.

Arsenal ended up choosing the former - well, choosing may not be the right word, as they would have wanted to win - but a sole goal from Noni Madueke was not enough to give the away side all three points.

There were some decent performers in the game, but the team, for the most part, struggled, particularly in the attack. Arsenal need a lot of inspiration going forward, and it seems like right now, they have none of it.

The team looks lifeless going forward, and there are a few issues that Mikel Arteta would have to fix as soon as possible if they want to keep their title challenge afloat.

Mikel Arteta paints the harsh reality of Eberechi Eze's first year at Arsenal

One of Arsenal's star signings in the summer, Eberechi Eze, started the game in West London, and ended up being hooked at half-time after a mediocre performance.

Arteta was asked about the player, and he gave away the harsh reality for not just Eze, but any player who joins a new club, particularly in the position that Eze plays in.

He said: "Well, I think he had moments and it's not easy when you move to a new club. It's always like this, and when you play against a team that is like this and the ball is a lot of times not on the floor and you have to be constantly breaking the play and do that, especially for attacking and creative players, it's more difficult."

Playing as a team's number 10 is not easy. You need a lot of improvisation, a lot of confidence and ability to take risks and make things happen.

Eze has most of that, but going to a club like Arsenal, where you will get criticised for just about everything you do on and off the pitch, is not ideal, at least at the start.

Enough time has passed for Eze to be performing better than he has recently, but Arteta does have a point. It is not just about adapting to the team's style of play. It is also adapting to the way the other teams start playing against a big team like Arsenal, and that takes a while, especially when you are used to having more space, like he used to at Crystal Palace.

Regardless, he would need to improve as quickly as possible, as Arsenal desperately need all hands on deck at the moment.