Wayne Rooney says Arsenal star has ‘not been good enough’ under Mikel Arteta | Football
TL;DR – Two-minute read
Arsenal triumphed over Tottenham with a commanding 4-1 victory in the north London derby on Sunday, reasserting their five-point lead in the Premier League. Viktor Gyokeres was named Player of the Match, scoring twice, while Eberechi Eze also found the net twice. The match followed the recent sacking of Spurs manager Thomas Frank, intensifying their relegation concerns.
Wayne Rooney says Arsenal’s north London derby hero has ‘not been good enough’ since joining the club.
On Sunday, Arsenal triumphed over Tottenham Hotspur with a dominant 4-1 victory, mirroring the scoreline from their earlier encounter this season. The win is significant as it reinstated Arsenal’s five-point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League, while heightening relegation concerns for Spurs.
Rooney praised Arsenal’s performance, stating they “showed their class” against a Tottenham side he described as “not a very good team.” However, he was critical of Arsenal’s £67.5 million summer signing, Eberechi Eze, asserting that he has “not been good enough” overall this season.
Rooney critiques Eberechi Eze’s season
While Eze has excelled in both fixtures against Tottenham, netting five of his six league goals against them, his overall performance has disappointed, particularly after being substituted at half-time during a recent draw with Brentford. Rooney remarked that “the two Tottenham games have shined a big light on him,” yet expressed doubt about his consistency in other matches.
He stated, “Clearly he’s not doing enough to warrant a place in the team consistently,” urging Eze to enhance his performances and training efforts to secure a spot in manager Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Impact on England World Cup selection
Rooney noted that Eze was initially expected to feature in England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup but now suspects he may miss out. Despite this, he acknowledged that Eze offers versatility, being capable of playing in multiple attacking roles.
The analysis concluded with Rooney commenting on Tottenham’s overall performance in the league this season. He expressed concern for the club’s position, noting they are likely to avoid relegation but have “gone backwards” and face significant challenges ahead.
Arsenal are set to face Chelsea next weekend, while Tottenham will be looking to improve their form against Fulham.