Eze may not be guaranteed a starting place in Thomas Tuchel’s side, but he could be a powerful substitute that can play in several different attacking positions. His versatility could make him a valuable option for England during the tournament.
Eze could have been the missing piece of the puzzle for Mikel Arteta, as his addition has made the Gunners much more devastating in attack. His ability was evident in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, where the 27-year-old scored with a hat-trick. Arteta has often deployed the player centrally in the number 10 role, which has unlocked new levels to his game.
Now, Arsenal are favourites to win the Premier League this term, having opened up a six-point lead on second place after 12 games played. According to betting sites in Nigeria, Arsenal are currently priced at 4/9 to win their first Premier League title since the 2003–04 season. Arsenal now have the squad depth to compete with top teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool, and Eze could play a pivotal role.
While Eze’s best performances so far have come in the number 10 role for Arsenal, he doesn’t appear to be Tuchel’s first choice for that position in the England setup. Indeed, the German has mainly deployed Morgan Rogers in that position so far, to great effect. The Aston Villa man works perfectly alongside Harry Kane, and helps to get the best out of England’s star man.
However, at the World Cup, it’s highly likely that Jude Bellingham will take the number 10 position and be asked to play in a similar style to Rogers. That means that Eze may be down the pecking order for this position, as there’s also Phil Foden and Cole Palmer to consider.
However, Eze is also an option on the left wing, and could provide solid competition on that flank. Due to his versatility, and the way he can be deployed in various positions, Tuchel is likely to favour him in the tournament. Eze’s adaptability could provide England with a tactical advantage, making him a potential game-changer in key moments. He could serve as an effective substitute in the latter stages of matches.
England are going into the World Cup among the favourites, and part of this is thanks to the way Tuchel has managed to find some balance in the team. He won’t shoehorn players into the wrong positions, and if stars can’t adapt to his style, they won’t play. Eze’s ability to play in a range of different positions and tactical formats suggests he’ll be an important player next summer.