Roy Keane challenges Eberechi Eze to improve performance
Roy Keane has challenged Eberechi Eze to sharpen his game after criticising the Arsenal midfielder’s work off the ball and warning that he has too many sloppy moments, reports BritPanorama.
Eze was named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad despite a slow start to the season at Arsenal. He came off the bench in the previous three matches, including the 7-0 victory over Croatia, prior to last night’s match against the Czech Republic.
On Tuesday night, the 28-year-old finally got his chance to start on the left wing. However, Keane had already made clear that Eze needed to do more before the match, expressing disappointment in Eze’s cameo against Croatia, particularly regarding his movement and effort when England did not have possession.
“I was disappointed with him the other night [against Croatia] when he came on. It’s a big test for him tonight. We know how good he is coming and getting the ball but we didn’t see that running power off the ball [against Croatia],” said Keane.
He highlighted the challenge Eze faces to establish himself at both Arsenal and international level, urging the player to seize opportunities rather than be intimidated by competition for places. “When you look at the attacking players and the challenges, and I’m including with Arsenal, sometimes in his play he can just be a bit sloppy,” Keane added.
Eze had promising spells against the Czech Republic but faded as the match progressed, leaving him with work to do to convince Tuchel he should keep his place. Harry Kane notably stole the spotlight, scoring twice on his record-equalling 125th England appearance, with Vladimir Coufal’s own goal opening the scoring.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who provided punditry alongside Keane, noted that Eze’s relaxed style could make his weaknesses more apparent. “He’s got a playing style where if you’re sloppy and you’re playing with that languid kind of style then it can look worse than it is,” Wright remarked.
ITV co-commentator Lee Dixon also questioned Eze’s end product, acknowledging that left wing may not be his preferred role. “It’s not his favourite position [left wing], I’m sure he’d admit that, but you’ve still got to put in a performance,” he said. “Roy was talking about that before, when you get your chance you have to take it.”
As Eze continues to navigate his career at both club and international levels, the pressure is on him to convert potential into performance. How he responds to these challenges could define his trajectory in this competitive landscape.
