Mikel Arteta tells Eberechi Eze what he wants to see him do more for Arsenal | Football

Eberechi Eze shone in Arsenal’s win over Wigan in the FA Cup on Sunday and Mikel Arteta wants to see more of the same from him against tougher competition.

The Gunners strolled to a 4-0 win over the League One side at the Emirates to book their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

They were four goals to the good after just 27 minutes thanks to strikes from Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and an own goal from Jack Hunt.

Eze was behind the first two goals from Madueke and Martinelli, providing two brilliant, line-breaking assists from deep.

It has been a difficult time for the England international, who has struggled for form and to hold down a place in the Arsenal starting XI.

The 27-year-old did start against Brentford in the Premier League at the weekend but was dragged off at half-time and Arteta suggested he was seeing much more of what he wants from him on Sunday.

Eze has not scored since his hat-trick against Spurs in November, but asked if his impressive showing against Wigan could be a confidence boost for him, Arteta said: ‘Yes, some superb goals and his intentions, I think the risk that he took in the final third, the amount of shots that he tried to take as well, I think that’s really positive.

‘That’s what I want from him.’

The manager added: ‘Those players need those moments and especially when we talk about the creative players, they need to feel that they are producing those moments and I’m very happy with that.

‘I’m very happy with Gabi [Martinelli] as well, the run that he made, the timing of that and then the finish in action, really, really positive. So it’s good for the mood, for the confidence, it’s a really good thing.’

Before the game Arteta had been asked if Sunday was a chance for Eze to show what he can do in an Arsenal starting XI, with the Spaniard telling TNT Sports: ‘To all of them. I think it’s not about individuals, every players is going to have better and worse games and today is a new one, a new challenge and we have to be really ready against this side.’

Amid Eze’s struggles to find his best form at Arsenal, there had been suggestion that he was finding it difficult to express himself in Arteta’s fairly rigid system, but the boss is suggesting that he wants his man to show off his creative flair.

Madueke was certainly impressed with his teammate’s showing, saying: ‘Yeah, he was unbelievable today.

‘He pulled all the strings from the middle and had a hand in all the goals so I’m really pleased for him.’

Arsenal will discover who they face in the last 16 of the FA Cup when the draw is made on Monday evening, but whoever it is, the tie will add to their hectic schedule.

The Gunners are leading the Premier League title race, still in the Champions League and FA Cup and have a date with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final next month.

They are back in action on Wednesday night as they go to Wolves in the Premier League, looking to extend their lead at the top to seven points.

Martin Odegaard missed the clash with Wigan on Sunday through injury and Arteta expects Eze to be heavily involved in the games to come.

‘Yes, he’s already playing a big role,’ he said of the summer signing from Crystal Palace. ‘He’s played a lot of games for us and he will continue to do that.’

On Odegaard’s fitness, he added: ‘Martin we’ll have to wait and see. He picked that knock on the action when we conceded the goal [vs Brentford] and he wasn’t fit for today.’

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