Former Gunner Thierry Henry is impressed with how Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have stepped up to the task of filling in for Arsenal’s injuries.
Arsenal have had some bad luck with injuries in wide areas so far this season, with Christos Tzolis ruled out for a couple of weeks and Bukayo Saka likely out for months.
With both of Mikel Arteta’s first-choice wingers out of action, he’s turned to Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, and the pair have done pretty well so far.
Eze has scored Champions League goals against Lille and Bayern Munich, whilst Madueke has netted a Premier League winner against Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal’s only real slip-up was on Tuesday, with Madueke absent and Eze only playing a cameo substitute role in the League Cup defeat. But club legend Thierry Henry has been impressed overall.
“This is why you have a strong squad,” Henry said. “Mikel Arteta knows that some players will be missing, some will get injured, and then others will have their time.
“When they have a chance to show what they can do, they need to show it, and Eze and Madueke have been showing it. Eze scored against Bayern, Madueke came on and scored against Nottingham Forest, so they are having an impact.
“Players are coming off the bench for Arsenal and scoring. That shows you that they aren’t passengers, and usually they come on and change the game.
“That’s the luxury of having good players on the bench, and that’s why Mikel Arteta is calm when he’s asked questions about players like Eze and why they aren’t playing so much.”
The good news is that Tzolis is in contention for a comeback this weekend against Liverpool. Though nothing is confirmed, he’s at least got a chance to be back in action, which will improve Arsenal’s depth on both sides of the pitch.
But Saka is going to be out for a while longer, so Eze and Madueke are going to be called upon many more times, and they need to keep showing the same levels they’ve displayed so far.
- Thierry Henry gives his thoughts on Eze & MaduekeFormer Gunner Thierry Henry is impressed with how Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have stepped up to the task of filling in for Arsenal’s injuries.
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