Mikel Arteta told to make bold Eberechi Eze change for Arsenal vs Man City

Eberechi Eze has endured a slow start to life at Arsenal following his big-money move from Crystal Palace in the summer, with the Gunners yet to see the best of him

Mikel Arteta has been advised to switch Eberechi Eze's position as the Arsenal manager looks to spark his Emirates Stadium career into life. The England winger joined the Gunners during the summer in a £67.5m transfer from Crystal Palace.

Arsenal had beaten their north London rivals Tottenham in the race to secure his signature. Yet Eze has endured a faltering start to life with his new club. He remains without a goal for Arsenal, while he seemed to find it difficult during his Champions League bow against Athletic Bilbao before being substituted with 20 minutes remaining.

Analysing Eze's opening performances, former Premier League striker Peter Crouch has proposed that reconsidering his role might unlock his potential.

Speaking to Paddy Power, he said: "I like Eze as a more central midfielder personally. He's brilliant off the left but it would be nice if he came in. But listen, Declan Rice could always play in that number 8 role, striding forward and creating things."

Crouch isn't alone in thinking that a minor tweak to Eze's position could help him launch his Arsenal journey. Ex-Gunner Martin Keown also shared similar thoughts following the victory over Bilbao.

He said: "There is the possibility that Eze could play as a midfield player... I'd start with Martinelli on the left and put Eze in midfield. I take out Merino because Eze is a player I want in the midfield.

"He (Arteta) has options now when he didn't last season during the run-in. He was managing with one arm tied behind his back because he didn't have the options. Now he's got to find the right balance to beat Man City."

Should Eze be shifted more centrally, it would present Arteta with a selection headache over who to field as his wide players against Man City. Bukayo Saka remains sidelined through injury - with Noni Madueke the obvious stand-in for him.

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However, there's a fight brewing for the left flank, with both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard having got on the scoresheet during the victory in Spain. The Brazilian appears to be the preferred choice having also set up Trossard for his strike.

Martinelli, though, hasn't found the back of the net in the Premier League since the 2-2 stalemate with Liverpool in May this year.

The 24-year-old has only been handed starts in two of Arsenal's four opening league fixtures last term, managing just a 12-minute appearance against Nottingham Forest last weekend.