Truth behind Arteta's comment on 'incredible' Eze after Liverpool win

Eberechi Eze was a surprise name on Arsenal’s team sheet at Liverpool on Sunday. In fact, Mikel Arteta said it was “incredible” that Eze was in the squad for Arsenal’s win at Anfield.

That is because at one point last week there were fears that Eze could be missing for a while - and yet his determination to be ready for his team speaks volumes about his character.

Eze’s presence and availability has only served to further enhance the way the England star is viewed behind the scenes at the Emirates for his attitude and mindset.

That Arteta remark got slightly lost because it was in an answer to a question about Christos Tzolis and the risk in throwing the winger straight into the starting XI after injury.

Gunners boss Arteta said: “It’s the energy that he had in training. When I asked him the question, how convinced he was. We had an issue with Ebs as well, it was incredible that he was in the squad.

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“I want to give credit to all the medical and performance team. What they are doing with those boys is incredible. Every three days, to keep everybody at this level.

“These are the margins sometimes when you win a football match, whether you have somebody available or not. They deserve that credit.

“With Christos, incredible. He didn’t want to come off, he wanted to complete the game. We took some risks, but at a point we decided enough was enough.”

It is fair to say that Eze has had a mixed start to the season because he was excellent from the bench at Aston Villa but has struggled from the start in games when he has played from the left.

But then he scored at Bayern Munich - a brilliantly taken goal in an epic Champions League tie - and then was pretty ineffective and frustrating as a substitute in Arsenal’s humiliating exit at Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup.

However, Eze was actually playing with some niggles and injury issues which have bugged him this season. After that Fleetwood game, he underwent some checks and there were fears he could be out for a few games because of injury.

But Eze shrugged off pain and fitness issues last season to help Arsenal when they needed him most - and has stepped up again this time.

Eze battled on, trained ahead of the Liverpool game and made himself available because he knew the team was short on numbers and options.

Bukayo Saka is out injured while Max Dowman was suspended after the club’s unsuccessful appeal against his red card at Fleetwood.

Even though Eze did not get off the bench at Anfield, his willingness to make himself available, to be ready to step up should he be required has earned him not just glowing praise from his manager but also a lot of respect among the coaching staff.

Some players have to be just right to deem themselves fit to play. Tzolis pushed himself to be back and fit to start and he is known as being tough, resilient and determined.

Eze is also showing those same qualities in abundance to ensure that he is ready to support his team. It has definitely been noticed - and marked him out as a special character.