Peter Crouch says Arsenal signing has had ‘no influence’ after Brentford draw | Football

Arsenal dropped points in the Premier League title race, drawing 1-1 with Brentford, and it was a doubly frustrating evening for Eberechi Eze.

After a cagey and goalless first half, Noni Madueke gave the league leaders the lead on the hour mark with a header from Piero Hincapie’s cross.

An away win would have restored Arsenal’s six-point lead over title rivals Manchester City but Brentford responded superbly after going behind and equalised through Keane Lewis-Potter.

Both sides had chances to seal the three points – Brentford perhaps coming closest to a winner – but a captivating London derby ended all square.

The stalemate was particularly disappointing for Arsenal summer signing Eze, who was subbed off at half-time following an underwhelming opening 45 minutes.

Arsenal supporters had high hopes for the England winger, who grew up supporting the Gunners, but he has scored just four league goals, three of which came in one game against his former suitors Spurs.

Tottenham were on the verge of signing Eze from Crystal Palace only for north London rivals Arsenal to hijack the deal last summer.

Eze has in fact not scored since that north London derby hat-trick in late November, going 16 games without a goal in all competitions.

A dip in form has seen Eze often feature from the bench but he started Thursday’s London derby at Brentford.

Arteta opted to sub Eze off at half-time, however, bringing on Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard as his replacement.

Asked whether he understood Arteta’s half-time change, ex-England striker Crouch said on TNT Sports: ‘Yeah, Eze couldn’t get on the ball or make things work, he couldn’t make things tick.

‘Defensively he’s probably not as good as Martin Odegaard either, he doesn’t get around the pitch quick as much.

‘It’s disappointing for Eze, he’s not played many games and no managed to make an influence at all.’

Arsenal legend Martin Keown, meanwhile, said Eze had a ‘difficult night’ against Brentford.

‘Brentford were on top in the first half,’ Keown said. ‘It’s been difficult for Arsenal and particularly Eze.

‘We’re hearing Martin Odegaard is coming on, he’s probably more familiar with the structure, certainly from a pressing point of view. He’s busier with possession as well.

‘There may be some changes and Arsenal need them because Brentford were in control for a lot of that first half.’

The derby draw leaves Arsenal four points ahead of Manchester City ahead of a weekend in which the Premier League pauses for the FA Cup.

Brentford, meanwhile, stay seventh, just five points outside the top-four places.

Goalscorer Lewis-Potter said: ‘It’s a big point in the end. It could have gone either way at the end. End of the day, we deserve a point, and I’m happy.

‘The squad we have got we can do special things. To play the top teams and take points from them is our aim all the time.

‘The way he [Keith Andrews] speaks to us every single day, the way he holds meetings and training sessions, he speaks so highly of the players and staff around us.

‘We have an unbelievable group. We can definitely do something special this season. That’s the aim.’

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