Mikel Arteta's praise for Noni Madueke landed with a clear edge to it before Arsenal vs Lille. Arteta said Madueke had "raised the level" and had been "the best player in the last 10 days", while Eberechi Eze still has not started a Premier League game for Arsenal this season.
Madueke's current edge
Arteta's comments matter because they came after a useful display in the 2-1 fightback against Leeds, where Madueke gave him a selection option that Eze has not yet created in league football. The manager also said Madueke had accepted his decisions and grabbed his chance with both hands, which is the sort of public backing attackers notice.
The numbers around Eze are still modest. He has made only 4 Premier League appearances this season, has no Premier League goal contributions, and carries a 6.45 rating. In the Champions League, he has only 1 appearance so far.
Lille and Arsenal's left side
Arsenal have won 4 of their last 5 Premier League matches, so this is not a side short on momentum. The issue is the left side, where Arteta has injuries and rotation to juggle, and Lille arrive at the top of Ligue 1.
Christos Tzolis picked up a hamstring issue while away with Greece, which adds another wrinkle to the setup. Arsenal paid £67.5million for Eze, and that fee will keep the pressure on while the competition for that left-sided role stays open.
Arteta's public line has not closed the door on Eze, but it has made the message plain enough. Madueke has the trust right now, and Eze has to force the next selection call before Tuesday's trip to Lille.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
