Mikel Arteta faces Eberechi Eze conundrum ahead of Tottenham derby

Mikel Arteta faces a significant selection dilemma involving Eberechi Eze as Arsenal prepare to visit rivals Tottenham in the Premier League this Sunday.

The £67.5m summer signing has found himself on the periphery of the squad in recent months.

Eze marked his arrival on the big stage with a hat-trick against Spurs in the reverse fixture last November.

However, the England international has struggled to replicate that form since the turn of the year.

Struggle for minutes

The former Crystal Palace playmaker has started only one of Arsenal’s last 11 Premier League matches.

His most recent start came in the 1-1 draw with Brentford, where he was substituted at half-time following an ineffective display.

Arteta has recently favoured defensive solidity over flair, leaving the creative midfielder largely among the substitutes.

This caution was evident against Wolves, where Bukayo Saka was deployed in a central number 10 role at Eze’s expense.

“If I was Eze, I’d be thinking, ‘Am I going to play for Arsenal too many more times this season?'”

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson

The search for balance

The Arsenal manager is currently finding it difficult to strike a balance between control and creativity.

While Eze showcased his ability with a dynamic performance in the FA Cup win over Wigan, consistency in the league remains elusive.

The Gunners have lacked a cutting edge in the final third during their recent stuttering run.

Reintegrating the 27-year-old could provide the spark required to reignite their season.

A favoured opponent

Sunday’s North London Derby could offer the perfect platform for Eze’s redemption.

The midfielder counts Tottenham as one of his favourite opponents.

He has scored six goals in eight total appearances against the Lilywhites.

With Arsenal needing a result to stay in contention at the top of the table, Arteta must decide if he trusts his marquee signing to deliver once again.