‘If he could not do it, I would never demand it’ – Arteta hails Eze’s improvement after helping Arsenal into Champions League quarter finals | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta lauded the consistency Ebere Eze is starting to show after scoring a stunner to help Arsenal progress to the Champions League quarter finals.

Eze opened the scoring with a superb long-range strike before Declan Rice added a second to secure their side a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on the night and a 3-0 win on aggregate.

And Arteta praised the improvement Eze has made this season, highlighting his off the ball work too.

“Without a doubt or you have no chance to play in this team,” Arteta said when asked about the need for Eze to work hard and press without the ball.

“But everybody does it and that’s the magic of it and the reason why we are so consistent in winning matches and preventing the opponent scoring.

“He can do it. If he could not do it, I would never demand it. He can do it and he’s willing to do it and he’s doing it better and better every day.”

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Arteta says Eze has had to adapt not only to his new team, but to playing more football.

“He’s playing every three days now,” the Arsenal boss explained. “He has the rhythm and understanding with his team-mates as well, what we want and especially his level of activity with the ball, without the ball, in the spaces that he moves and the purpose that he’s showing every time he’s in and around the box as well.

“It’s the reason why he’s here, to create those kind of moments.

“I think he’s building a better chemistry and understanding with all of them (his team-mates). We start to understand him, as well, much better and when you start to make a good game, a good action, that can win you the game, it lifts your confidence as well and that’s what every player needs.

“Comparing the minutes that he’s ever played in his career, it’s much higher now than any other season. That tells you the consistency he’s showing. He’s always fit.

“Today, he had to come off because he’s had a lot of minutes but he’s handling the pressure, the situation, and the expectation really well.”

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