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Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday in what is undoubtedly the biggest game of the season so far.
This game is a title-decider in all but name, win and Arsenal can almost consider themselves champions, lose, and it feels like it’s the end of the world.
As you can imagine, there’s plenty of tension around this game, both inside and outside the club.
Arsenal head into the biggest game of their season with momentum slipping and pressure building, yet Eberechi Eze is emerging as one of the few players keeping a clear and positive mindset inside the dressing room.
What do you think will happen when Arsenal take on Man City?
Credit: Getty Images/Michael Regan What Eberechi Eze is saying behind-the-scenes
According to Miguel Delaney, writing in his Inside Football Newsletter, Eberechi Eze is emerging as a voice of calm and confidence ahead of this game.
While recent results have created doubt from the outside, Eze is not carrying that same weight. According to Delaney, he has quickly established himself as a strong presence in the dressing room.
“Eze doesn’t feel any of this weight, bringing an assurance that has already made him a strong new leader in the dressing room. He is seen as one of the few not overawed by Arteta, and will speak his mind to the manager. Eze has done so this week, which the coach has appreciated.”
That willingness to challenge and communicate with Mikel Arteta is not common in a squad where standards are high and expectations are constant. It suggests Eze is comfortable in his role and confident enough to contribute beyond just his performances on the pitch.
His influence has also extended to the mood around the squad ahead of the trip to Manchester City. Rather than focusing on Arsenal’s poor run, he has been pushing a simple message about what is still possible in the title race.
“He has also been one of those, along with Riccardo Calafiori, who keeps pointing to the positive of this week: they can win – and win the league.”
That perspective matters given the current situation. Arsenal have lost three of their last five games, and the narrative has shifted towards City taking control. Inside the squad, however, there are still voices insisting the title is there to be won.
Eze’s role in that is becoming more important as the pressure increases. Leadership is not always about experience or status, and in this case it is about mentality during a difficult spell.
Of course, Eze knows what it takes to beat Man City in one of these big matches – he scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final last year against Pep Guardiola’s side, and if he can do similar this weekend, he’ll be an instant legend at Arsenal.
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