Former Newcastle star backs Eze to start against Chelsea after brilliant North London derby heroics

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to hand Eberechi Eze a starting role against Chelsea following his outstanding display in the North London derby.

The England international produced a match-winning performance against Tottenham Hotspur, scoring twice as Arsenal FC cruised to a 4–1 victory.

The brace took Eze’s tally against Spurs this season to five goals, having also netted a hat-trick in the earlier meeting at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking on ESPN ahead of the London clash, Hislop said Eze’s creativity and unpredictability could be key against a Chelsea side he expects to adopt a defensive approach.

“I will start Eze because of how Chelsea play,” Shaka said. “Given what we saw in the second half of the Carabao Cup, where Chelsea just sat and defended and hoped to spring a surprise in the last fifteen minutes.”

“I expect Chelsea’s approach to be very much the same this time around. Again, sit back, defend, soak pressure up, and hope to come out in the last fifteen minutes.”

Hislop, however, urged Arteta to consider starting the former Crystal Palace midfielder ahead of captain Martin Ødegaard to give the Gunners greater attacking variation against the Blues.

“In which case, you need somebody just to shake things up a little bit in that attacking third and Eze can be that for Arsenal when Arteta allows him to be. So for me, if I am picking the squad, I am picking Eze to give Chelsea a whole lot,” he concluded.

Eze joined Arsenal during the summer transfer window amid interest from several Premier League clubs, including Tottenham.

After a slow start to life at the club, the former Queens Park Rangers star is beginning to find his rhythm in Arteta’s system.

The 27-year-old has registered six goals and two assists in 23 league appearances, helping Arsenal maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table.

With the title race intensifying, Eze will be hoping his recent form earns him a place in the starting lineup against Chelsea, and the chance to further establish himself as a key figure in Arteta’s side.

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