Pardew, speaking on talkSPORT, framed Eze’s role at Arsenal in starker terms than anyone at the club has yet used in public.
“I don’t think Eze is going to be a starter for Arsenal, I think he’s a sub and if they need a moment, then the manager can give him the last 10-15 minutes of games.”
“In certain games, against lesser opposition, Eze will be given that No.10 position.”
The former Crystal Palace manager, who worked with Eze in south London, framed the issue as positional rather than personal. Arsenal’s No.10 role under Arteta carries defensive duties that Martin Odegaard performs by default, and Pardew says Eze does not.
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“There’s a real defensive side to that No.10 position he likes that Martin Odegaard does and Eze doesn’t do.”
“I think Arteta doesn’t feel comfortable with that.”
Arteta points to Forest’s shape
Arteta had already fielded questions about the halftime switch on Sunday night at the City Ground. His reasoning was tactical.
“With that Christmas tree it is difficult to get in there. We needed a different profile and fresh legs,” Arteta told reporters after the 1-0 win, referring to the 4-3-2-1 shape Nottingham Forest used to pack the central lanes.
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The Arsenal manager also defended Eze’s wider form.
“Three days ago he scored a goal, he could’ve scored three. This is football. One day he is brilliant but it is normal.”
Eze had one touch in the Forest penalty area and failed to create a chance in his 45 minutes on the pitch. His replacement Noni Madueke scored Arsenal’s only shot on target in the 80th minute, a strike that deflected off Jair Cunha past goalkeeper Matz Sels.
A £60m signing on the margins
Eze arrived from Crystal Palace in August 2025 for a guaranteed £60m, rising to £67.5m with add-ons, after Arsenal hijacked a move Tottenham had thought was agreed. He signed a four-year contract and took the No.10 shirt.
A week before Pardew’s verdict, Arteta had publicly backed the attitude of his summer signing.
“Like everybody else, he needs to earn the right to play. That comes down to training sessions, and when you are on that pitch, to have the impact on the game that the team needs. Eze is going to have many opportunities to do that. His attitude is phenomenal and our players have to adapt as well to his qualities,” Arteta said on 12 October 2026.
Three days after that endorsement, Eze was on the ball once inside the opposition penalty area before being taken off.
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