Arsenal walked into the Gtech Community Stadium knowing exactly what was at stake — and walked out having done exactly what their rivals hoped for.
A 1-1 draw against Brentford on Matchday 26 has allowed Manchester City to close the title gap to just four points with 12 games remaining. The pressure is now firmly back on Mikel Arteta’s side.
And while several players underperformed on the night, one name stood out for all the wrong reasons: Eberechi Eze.
A Night to Forget for Eze
With Kai Havertz ruled out through injury, this was supposed to be Eze’s moment. The stage was set for the summer signing to take control, dictate tempo, and provide creativity in a tight away fixture.
Instead, he disappeared.
Arteta made the ruthless call to substitute him at half-time — a decision that told you everything about how the first 45 minutes had gone.
Speaking on TNT Sports during the interval, former England striker Peter Crouch didn’t hold back in his assessment.
“Eberechi Eze couldn’t get on the ball, he couldn’t make things work and couldn’t make things tick.”
It was a simple analysis — but brutally accurate.
The Numbers Back It Up
The stats paint a worrying picture.
17 touches in 45 minutes 9 completed passes 0 dribbles attempted 0 shots 0 real attacking influence
To put that into context, Martin Ødegaard registered 12 touches in just 10 minutes after replacing him.
For a player brought in to unlock low blocks and carry Arsenal through tight games, that level of involvement simply isn’t enough.
The Bigger Concern for Arsenal
This wasn’t just a bad half — it was a worrying sign.
Arsenal are currently stretched in attacking midfield areas. With Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri unavailable, Arteta’s rotation options are limited. That makes Eze’s form even more important.
Right now, the Gunners need big personalities stepping forward.
Instead, they’re getting performances that drift under the radar when the pressure rises.
If I Were Arteta…
If I were Mikel Arteta, I would be telling Eberechi Eze:
“Demand the ball. Take responsibility. Stop hiding.”
Because at this stage of the season, passengers cost titles.
A Message to Eze
If there’s one message Arsenal fans would send him after Brentford, it would be simple:
You were signed for nights like this — now prove why.
There’s still time left in the season. There’s still a title to fight for. But if Arsenal are going to stay ahead of Manchester City, they need their creative players to step up immediately.
And right now, Eberechi Eze has a lot to prove.
