Eberechi Eze has admitted he wants to try and live up to the standards set by Arsenal’s previous players to wear the number 10 shirt, and to achieve what they achieved.
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Eberechi Eze’s Arsenal spell so far has been largely positive, but perhaps somewhat underwhelming.
The 27-year-old has had big moments, like the hat-trick in the north London derby, or the assists against Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich. Five goals and six assists isn’t a bad return at this stage, particularly given his limited minutes at times this season.
Even so, the fact the midfielder hasn’t scored a goal since that derby hat-trick is concerning. The fact his only assists since Bayern in November have come against League One side Wigan Athletic is also disappointing.
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It was never going to be an entirely smooth transition back to Arsenal, Eze’s boyhood club. Perhaps there could be an argument that it might affect your performances to have the pressure of playing for the team of your heart, wearing the number 10, as they compete for trophies on four fronts.
But Eze insists that he understands the demands associated with wearing the shirt, and he wants that pressure on his shoulders.
“I know what the shirt means,” Eze told Men in Blazers. “I know what it means to wear the number ten. I know the calibre of the players that have gone before me.
“So to put on the shirt and be representing, honestly, that’s the type of guy I am. I want to be the one to wear number ten, I don’t know any other way to be.
“Those (former number tens) are the guys I look up to. Those are the guys that I want to follow, I want to emulate, and I want to achieve what they achieved. That’s the mentality, that’s the goal.”
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Another positive north London derby display on Sunday afternoon would go some way to helping Eze build that kind of legacy at Arsenal, helping the team to remain top of the Premier League and fighting despite the recent setbacks.
The former Crystal Palace man made a strong start with his new club, but he now needs to get back to the form that earned him Arsenal’s Player of the Month award in November.