Nigel Winterburn: Eze will be a huge player for Arsenal

Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn has told NewBettingSites.uk that he believes Eberechi Eze will be a huge player for the Gunners for years to come.

Speaking to NewBettingSites.uk, Winterburn said: “One thing I don’t need to go on about with Eberechi Eze is his talent, because it’s there for all to see. He has proven it in the Premier League at Crystal Palace and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be a huge success for Arsenal.

“I would assume he will play on the left-hand side of the attack, but it’s best not to try and predict what Mikel Arteta is going to do, because you just never know! I think he’ll be comfortable on the left and through the middle, so we’ll just have to wait and see. That said, the general consensus seems to be that he’ll come in and play on the left.

“Hopefully he can be part of the starting XI straight away and hit the ground running. I imagine there is a high chance that he will start against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, given the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. It looks like there will be a space for him in the starting lineup straight away which should help integrate him quicker.

“Once he is fully integrated I think he will be a huge player for the club and I can see him starting a large number of games this season.”

Gyokeres will score a huge number of goals for Arsenal

Much has been made of Viktor Gyökeres’ mixed start to life at Arsenal, but Winterburn is backing the Swedish striker to score his fair share of goals for the club, provided he gets the service he needs from the likes of Eze, Saka and Ødegaard.

“With Eze in the team now, as well as Saka and Ødegaard, I’d like to think Viktor Gyökeres will be provided with a lot of chances,” said Winterburn. “It takes a bit of time to form those connections in attack and I’m not sure how they’re going about building those relationships in training.

“I don’t know if he’s one hundred percent adapted and fit for the Premier League yet, but to me he looks like a player who wants the ball coming alongside and in front of him to run onto. He’s the type of striker who will stand between the centre halves and the full-backs, wanting the pass in behind.

With the likes of Eze, Saka, Ødegaard and Ethan Nwaneri in the team now, the creativity has to be there for him. If they get the ball to him in the right places then there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will score a huge number of goals for Arsenal, but let’s wait and see. He knows why he’s been brought to the club and the pressure that comes with that – now he has to produce the goods.”

Arteta will change left-back throughout the season

Weighing in on Arsenal’s left-back situation, Winterburn’s position in his playing days, the former Gunners defender suggested that Miles Lewis-Skelly will not be short of minutes this season despite Riccardo Calafiori securing the left-back spot in the first two games against Manchester United and Leeds.

“The left-back situation at Arsenal is an interesting one. Last season I thought a fully-fit defence would have Ben White at right-back with Jurrien Timber at left-back, but then the injuries came and even Riccardo Calafiori was out for a period of time as well.

“Calafiori has started both of the first two games of the season and hasn’t given Arteta a reason to drop him. He can come inside into the midfield like Miles Lewis-Skelly does, and he can also go on the overlap like we saw against Leeds. That said, I think there will be a lot of chopping and changing throughout the season.

“We saw Lewis-Skelly come on in midfield, which is the position in which he came through the academy, so there are going to be a lot of opportunities for minutes for both him and Calafiori.

“It’s good to have strong competition and if one of them gets injured or their form drops off, then there’s a player with bags of talent waiting to come in and fill the gap. It is interesting to see that Calafiori has started the season, but he’s a very confident player on the ball, he can drive with it on the outside or through the middle. It’s great to see him back fit and playing well.

“If he starts against Liverpool then he’ll have a big test up against Mohamed Salah. It’ll be interesting to see what Arsenal do and if they’ve got any plans to nullify that area of the pitch.”