Arteta kicks dugout chair in frustration during Eze cameo vs Hull
Mikel Arteta was caught on camera kicking a dugout chair in frustration during Arsenal's win over Hull City, with Eberechi Eze appearing to be the trigger for the outburst.
Eze came off the bench as a substitute and lost possession on several occasions in quick succession. Arteta could be seen barking instructions in his direction before the England international then conceded a soft foul. That proved to be the final straw, with the Arsenal boss storming towards his dugout and kicking one of the chairs before exchanging words with assistant coach Gabriel Heinze. Before that moment, fellow assistant Albert Stuivenberg appeared to try calming Arteta down, without much success, according to football.london.
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It is not the first time Arteta's touchline conduct has drawn scrutiny. Speaking before the match, the Spaniard admitted he knows he struggles to stay within his technical area, though he used the opportunity to question the consistency of how managers are punished for similar infringements across matches.
“If I leave it technical areas, it's my mistake, I'm wrong, that's it,” Arteta said. “You don't have to look at anybody else. The thing is, as we always say, let's be consistent. If you are out, you are out, and then it's a yellow. If it's one centimetre, you are out, you are out, then it has to be a yellow. Otherwise, it's sometimes yes, sometimes no. All of us, we get, okay, when is it then? When is yes and when no? And that's a collaboration that we need to have with everybody. Unless, yeah, we sit down there and that's it. I can't help it; I'm sorry. I will try to do my best, but I can't help it sometimes.”
Arteta and Eze share a moment after full time
Despite the heated exchange during the match, tensions appeared to have cooled by the final whistle. With the game won, Arteta approached Eze with his arm across his mouth, seemingly to shield what he was saying from onlookers, before the pair embraced and were seen smiling.
Eze's role under scrutiny
Eze's position in Arteta's side has become increasingly fluid this season. The return of Christos Tzolis from injury has pushed the attacker back to the bench, and even before that, Arteta substituted Eze at half time away at Nottingham Forest in favour of Noni Madueke, who went on to win that game, despite Eze having scored against Lille in a previous outing.
Statistically, Eze is yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League this season, managing just two Champions League goals across all competitions. His average match rating sits at 6.9 according to FotMob, while football.london's own match ratings have him at 6.3 so far this campaign.
With competition for places intensifying in Arsenal's attack and expectations rising as the title race continues, Eze's immediate future in Arteta's starting plans remains uncertain heading into the coming weeks.
