Arsenal’s Premier League title charge hit a speed bump at the Gtech Community Stadium, as a lethargic 1-1 draw with Brentford allowed Manchester City to close the gap to just four points. While the “Bees” chaos-factor proved difficult to handle, the real talking point was the anonymous performance of Eberechi Eze, whose “Ozil-like” lack of intensity has left Mikel Arteta with a major selection headache.
The Eze Stats: 45 Minutes of Invisibility
Substituted at half-time for Martin Odegaard, Eze’s first league start since December was nothing short of a disaster. Despite his £67.5m price tag, the former Crystal Palace star failed to provide the creative spark Arsenal desperately needed to break down Keith Andrews’ resilient side.
The “Ghosting” Numbers vs. Brentford:
| Metric | Eberechi Eze | | :— | :— | | Minutes Played | 45 | | Touches | 17 (Raya had 48) | | Chances Created | 0 | | Expected Assists (xA) | 0.02 | | Ground Duels Won | 2/4 |
“Walking Around Like Ozil” – A Dangerous Comparison
The criticism from the Arsenal faithful has been sharp. Arsenal writer Connor Humm noted that Eze “walks around like Ozil,” adding the brutal caveat that such a style is only acceptable if you produce world-class output—something Eze is currently failing to do.
While his North London Derby hat-trick remains a highlight, his inability to impose himself on games is becoming a pattern. With Kai Havertz sidelined with a muscle injury, Arsenal need a leader in the final third, not a passenger.
Defending the Long Throw: Arsenal’s Old Achilles’ Heel
It wasn’t just the attack that faltered. Arsenal were given a “taste of their own medicine” by Brentford’s set-piece mastery. Michael Kayode’s long-throw routine, flicked on and finished by Keane Lewis-Potter, exposed a rare lapse in the Gunners’ defensive concentration.
Only a goal-line block from Cristian Mosquera and a brilliant David Raya save against Igor Thiago prevented Arsenal from leaving West London with zero points.
Wolves at Molineux – Time for Odegaard’s Return?
Arteta now faces a choice ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Molineux. With the offensive line creating just one ‘big chance’ against Brentford, the experiment of starting Eze over Odegaard appears to have failed. If Arsenal are to maintain their lead over a surging Manchester City, the “Ozil-esque” luxury of Eze must be traded for the consistent, high-pressing leadership of the club captain.
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
