Ray Parlour predicts ‘different class’ Arsenal star won’t start against Chelsea | Football

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes Eberechi Eze will get the nod again this weekend against Chelsea ahead of club captain Martin Odegaard.

Eze, a £60million signing from Crystal Palace last summer, scored twice against Tottenham in last Sunday’s derby as the Gunners inflicted more misery on their neighbours. Having scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in November, five of his seven goals for Arsenal have come against their arch-rivals.

But there was a worrying lull for the England international between those two north London derbies. Eze was hauled off at half-time against Aston Villa in December and would start just two of his side’s next league 11 matches – failing to make it beyond the hour mark on both those occasions.

Eze started ahead of Odegaard at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the captain back on the bench after a recent knock that ruled him out of the last two games.

The Norway international has picked up various injury issues this season that have contributed to his influence on the side waning – even prompting suggestions his days at the club could be numbered.  

Mikel Arteta’s biggest dilemma ahead of the visit of Chelsea is perhaps who starts alongside Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice in midfield.

Former Gunners star Parlour, who won three Premier League titles with the club, was impressed with Eze’s reaction to falling out of favour and believes Arteta will stick with the player who delivered last time out.

‘Odegaard has gone through a tough time this season with a few injuries. But he really has that quality in those little areas of the pitch he can get out of trouble,’ Parlour told Metro via BetMGM

‘On his day he is different class. But Eze has bided his time. It’s disappointing when you don’t play but you have to keep working hard an show desire in training and showing the right attitude. It’s easy to come in and start sulking.

‘He didn’t play for quite a while but it is all about attitude beyond that. Being in training first, being ready to go. That’s what I would I have done and managers notice that.

He got his opportunity again against Spurs and scored two good goals. But now he has to get his head down.

‘I don’t know what the team is going to be at the weekend because we know Chelsea are very strong in midfield. Palmer, Caicedo and Fernandez are all very good players. We know Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice will play.

‘I think Eze will probably start. But Arteta will have been assessing things in training this week. And you can’t rest players when you are going for the title, you need your best team.

‘But momentum is so important when you are winning. He will assess that but I think Eze might keep his place.’

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