Former Arsenal striker, Theo Walcott has said that Mikel Arteta is likely to be displeased with Eberechi Eze following Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Coventry City on Friday evening.
The Premier League champions commenced the new season impressively, with goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard securing the win at the Emirates Stadium.
Eze, on the other hand, began the match on the bench and was brought on for Christos Tzolis with 14 minutes left to play.
Walcott believes that Arteta would have been dissatisfied with Eze’s ambitious long-range free-kick in the final moments of the match, which sailed well over the crossbar.
He noted that such “minor details” will significantly influence the Arsenal manager’s selection decisions throughout the season.
He told Premier League Productions: “Even when the substitutions were made, that’s their opportunity to demonstrate to Mikel, ‘Don’t overlook me.’ I sensed that some could have contributed a bit more upon entering the game, but it is the first match of the season, and they deserve some leeway.
“This serves as a reminder to those not in the starting lineup that the squad is extensive and competitive. If you aspire to be part of the starting team, there are certain standards that Mikel will be monitoring.
“Eze having that shot at the end…I’m not sure he [Arteta] will be happy with that. I know it’s such a small thing, but these are little details that he will look into with each individual player if he’s going to be with them throughout the season. That’s just a sign to see.”