Arsenal bought Eze to 'decide football matches', says Arteta

Mikel Arteta was thrilled by Eberechi Eze's performance against Tottenham last weekend, saying Arsenal bought him to "decide football matches".

Eze scored a brace against Spurs to help Arsenal to a 4-1 win over their north London rivals, which followed a hat-trick in the reverse fixture.

The 27-year-old has scored each of his last 11 Premier League goals in London, with all six of his goals for Arsenal this season coming in London derbies (one vs Crystal Palace, five vs Spurs), the most-ever by a player in a season without scoring outside of London derby games.

Eze has largely struggled since moving to Arsenal, being limited to just 13 starts in the Premier League, though he is their second-highest scorer this term, despite only scoring in three games.

And Arteta has been impressed with Eze's recent improvement as he continues to settle in at his new club.

"You see how players react in relation to certain decisions you take," Arteta said of Eze ahead of Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Chelsea.

"When they have better games or certain difficulties. His role has been modified a few times throughout the season, and his reaction has always been top, but it's been tough to perform after, which is what we need.

"He's been exceptional in the manner he is behaving every single day, but what we need now is that those manners are transformed into huge performances that decide football matches. That's the reason we bought him.

"To understand him, you have to understand how he connects with other players and what are the connections we can build in and around him and the spaces he is more comfortable using.

"There are certain behaviours that he has changed dramatically into really positive things. In the end, you don't know if you are going to see them in a week, or two, or in a month, but they are coming."

Arsenal's lead at the Premier League summit could be cut to two points by the time they kick off against Chelsea on Sunday.

This is the fourth time the teams have met in all competitions this season, with Arsenal winning both legs of their EFL Cup semi-final after drawing their last league clash 1-1.

The Gunners have won their last three home league games against Chelsea, last winning more consecutively between 1990 and 1994 (five), while the Blues are winless in their last eight Premier League games against Arsenal (D3 L5).

In the second leg of the EFL Cup tie, Chelsea sat deep despite trailing on aggregate before Arsenal snatched a late winner, but Arteta does not want to dwell on recent results against Liam Rosenior's team.

"What it is about is the preparation," Arteta said. "It gives you confidence and the right emotional state to get to the game with the belief that you are going to win it. Then you have to go and do it.

"Chelsea have done different things while facing us. They can change throughout the game. They've got the manager and players who are comfortable doing that. We will be prepared and try to be better than them.

"There's nothing else we can do. What we did two weeks ago or two years ago is irrelevant."