Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals why Eberechi Eze is starting north London derby against Tottenham

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·22 February 2026

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals why Eberechi Eze is starting north London derby against Tottenham

Mikel Arteta ends Bukayo Saka experiment to hand Eberechi Eze a rare Premier League start

Mikel Arteta has explained why Eberechi Eze starts for Arsenal against Tottenham in the north London derby.

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Eze was named in the Arsenal starting XI against Spurs as they aim to bounce back from their midweek setback at Wolves and respond to Manchester City’s win over Newcastle on Saturday.

The attacking midfielder, who rejected a move to Tottenham in favour of a switch to the Gunners last summer, has found Premier League starts few and far between since the 2-1 win over Wolves at the Emirates Stadium back in December.

Eze scored a hat-trick when the teams met in the first north London derby of the season at the Emirates Stadium back in November and also netted a brace on his last visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when playing for Crystal Palace.

Speaking ahead of kick-off, Arteta said: “Certainly there is that, that is our recent history and his recent history with them and because we believe for this game he is the right player to play in that position.

“He is very, very good, that is why.”

Arsenal do have captain Martin Odegaard back in the matchday squad after missing the last two matches with a knee injury, but Kai Havertz and Ben White miss out entirely.

"We tried with Kai, it was too early unfortunately, but Martin is okay to play some minutes,” Arteta told reporters ahead of kick-off.

“It was Ben, he had a little niggle yesterday and he couldn't make the game."