Arteta reveals how he cheered up a 'grumpy' Eze before Bayern goal
Mikel Arteta has revealed he made a point of lifting Eberechi Eze's mood before sending him on as a substitute against Bayern Munich, with the forward responding by scoring off the bench on Wednesday night.
Speaking in a video published by the BBC, Arteta described Eze as 'grumpy' before the game and explained that he worked to get a laugh out of him ahead of his introduction. Whatever the manager said evidently worked, as Eze made an instant impact once he entered the fray in the Champions League clash with the German giants.
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A big night in Europe
Arsenal's clash with Bayern Munich was one of the standout fixtures of the Champions League midweek, and Eze's goal added to what has already been a promising start for the forward since his move to north London. Coming off the bench to score against a side of Bayern's calibre is the kind of moment that can boost a player's confidence significantly, and Arteta's light hearted approach behind the scenes appears to have played its part.
Arteta is known for paying close attention to the mental state of his players, not just their physical readiness, and this anecdote offers a small but telling glimpse into his man management style. Getting a player relaxed and smiling before asking them to change a game is a subtle tactic, but one that clearly paid dividends on this occasion.
Saka injury concern overshadows the mood
The positive story around Eze comes against a more worrying backdrop for Arsenal, with the BBC reporting separately that the club fears Bukayo Saka could be out for as long as two months. No further detail on the nature of the injury or the timeline has been confirmed beyond that fear being reported, but it represents a significant blow given Saka's importance to Arteta's side in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
Losing a player of Saka's influence for an extended period would test the depth of Arsenal's squad, and it makes performances like Eze's late intervention against Bayern Munich all the more valuable as the club navigates a congested fixture schedule across multiple competitions.
Arteta will be hoping more players can replicate Eze's impact as Arsenal continues to manage the balance between squad rotation, player welfare and the demands of competing on several fronts. The manager's attention to the finer details, from tactics to the mood in the dressing room, will remain under scrutiny as the season progresses.
