Eberechi Eze singles out Arsenal’s true leader, leaving Martin Odegaard out

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Eberechi Eze has highlighted the most influential leader within the Arsenal squad.

Eze joined the Gunners this summer following a standout campaign with Crystal Palace, where he tallied 14 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.

Having been let go by Arsenal as a youngster, his return to the club was one of the more heartwarming stories of the transfer window. However, the Englishman is still working to hit his stride since rejoining.

Even so, he appears to have settled in well with his teammates, which should help him start making an impact on the field soon enough.

Eberechi Eze labels Mikel Arteta as a ‘good leader’ at Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has become known for his strong-minded and principled approach to coaching.

But while that is the general perception, he comes across as a manager who is not only organised but also willing to listen and adapt.

There is no doubt that the players have fully embraced his methods, and you can see it in how they speak about him publicly.

Martin Odegaard has some seasons as Arsenal’s captain, but Eze singled out Arteta when asked about leadership qualities, calling him a ‘very good leader.’

Premier League Productions put the question to Eze: “Who would you say is the greatest leader and what attributes do they have to possess?”

Eze responded: “I don’t know who the greatest leader is, but I would say Mikel is a very good leader.”

He was then asked what Arteta brings out in him: “Belief in yourself and the team and that you have everything you need to win.”

Arteta’s message clear as Eze’s learning curve continues

Eze has not quite found his rhythm in recent outings as Arsenal’s number ten.

While the 27-year-old clearly buys into Arteta’s approach and the values the Spaniard promotes, he still appears to be getting to grips with some of the more detailed tactical demands.

The Englishman is showing progress off the ball and seems to have a better grasp of the Gunners’ pressing system compared to when he first arrived.

But there are still moments where he looks unsure about positioning himself to receive passes during build-up play, and he has not fully adapted to the team’s attacking patterns just yet.

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If Eze is going to make his time at Arsenal count, he will need to get a firmer hold on these tactical details. Still, it is early days, and there is every reason to believe he can adapt quickly given his track record.