Arsenal attacking midfielder Ebelesi Eze in action (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Arsenal have named their starting XI for today’s Premier League away game against Burnley, but one pressing issue stands out.
There are no easy games in the Premier League, even though the Gunners are heavy favorites to pick up another three points this afternoon. If there is one criticism of Mikel Arteta’s side, it is that they rely too much on set-pieces for goals.
Arsenal’s defense is solid and their set-piece goal record is very strong, but it would certainly be good if they could generate more goals from open play.
Specifically, it would be a welcome boost if Viktor Gokeres, who has scored just five goals so far this season, only three of which have come in the Premier League, starts to rack up his tally.
Still, looking at Arsenal’s line-up this afternoon, my gut feeling is that Gokeres will once again struggle in front of goal…
Perhaps I’ll be proven wrong soon, but using Eberechi Eze on the left instead of center seems like a better choice here.
Instead, it’s Leandro Trossard who starts on the left of the front three, but he’s not really a classic winger who hammers the ball into the box for Gokeres to feed.
Is Eberechi Eze the key to Arsenal getting the best out of Victor Gokeres?
One of Arsenal’s best goals this season came against Nottingham Forest, when the team’s fluid movement saw Eze cross into the box for the first time and Gokeres slot home.
That’s the kind of goal Gokeres excels at, and it’s the kind of service he needs, which he won’t get from wingers like Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli.
Eze isn’t necessarily a wide player either, but the England international has played well there and his goal against Forest showed how effective that partnership can be.
No other player has really found Gokeres with this much ammunition, so Arteta definitely needs to think about bringing them closer together. Trossard will probably end up on the bench, with Ethan Nwaneri playing centrally while Martin Odegaard is out injured.
Is this too harsh on Arteta’s Arsenal team selection? Anyway, can we expect a big win today? Let me know your thoughts and predictions in the comments!