Wayne Rooney says one among Arsenal’s north London derby heroes has ‘not been good enough’ since becoming a member of the membership.
The Gunners as soon as once more asserted their dominance over Tottenham on Sunday, sealing an emphatic 4-1 win – the identical scoreline they received by within the first derby of the season.
Player of the Match Viktor Gyokeres and former Spurs goal Eberechi Eze each scored twice as Arsenal thumped Tottenham of their first recreation since Thomas Frank’s sacking.
The convincing victory restored Arsenal’s five-point lead over title rivals Manchester City and elevated Spurs’ relegation fears.
Rooney mentioned Arsenal ‘showed their class’ in opposition to ‘not a very good team’ Tottenham and praised Eze’s efficiency.
But the previous Manchester United and England captain was fast to level out that Arsenal’s £67.5m summer signing has ‘not been good enough’ total this season.
While Eze has starred in each north London derbies, he has largely underwhelmed following his transfer from Crystal Palace, with 5 of his six league objectives coming in opposition to Spurs.
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The England worldwide was hooked at half-time during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford last week after which discovered himself on the bench for the even more frustrating 2-2 draw with Wolves.
After listening to Kelly Somers, the host of his BBC podcast, wax lyrical about Eze’s ‘mentality’ and ‘character’, Rooney responded: ‘I disagree a bit because I don’t assume he’s been good sufficient this season.
‘The two Tottenham games have shined a big light on him but in other games I’ve watched him and never thought he’s been good sufficient.
‘I feel a number of that’s in all probability by not enjoying constantly, I get that, however once you speak about mentality and character, if I used to be him I’d be attempting to make it very troublesome for the supervisor to depart me out, each together with your performances and in coaching.
‘Clearly he’s not doing sufficient to warrant a spot within the group constantly. I get that Martin Odegaard is the captain however you’ve acquired to make it virtually inconceivable for Mikel Arteta to depart you out.
‘After the first Tottenham game I don’t assume he did sufficient to remain within the group so that you simply hope now for him he performs higher constantly to remain within the recreation.
‘I think he needs to perform a little bit better than he has so far this season.’
Eze was anticipated to be a part of England’s squad for this summer time’s World Cup firstly of the season however Rooney now suspects he’ll miss out.
‘I’m unsure Eze will go to the World Cup however he does provide you with a distinct possibility as a result of he can play on the left or within the No. 10,’ he added.
‘Maybe that will be on Eze’s facet as a result of these gamers are so essential at a World Cup. In phrases of at Arsenal I feel Eze is healthier within the penalty field however Odegaard is healthier when he’s a bit deeper.
‘He’s very intelligent and picks up some nice positions, his motion could be very good, you simply wish to see a bit extra from him within the ultimate third.
‘If you could combine the two of them you’d have an important participant!’
Arsenal proceed their Premier League title cost in opposition to Chelsea subsequent weekend, whereas Tottenham will probably be determined to spice up their survival hopes in opposition to Fulham.
Discussing the north London derby extra typically, Rooney mentioned: ‘It was a good recreation, Arsenal clearly confirmed their class and Tottenham are simply not a good group.
‘I just don’t assume they’re a good group. If you undergo their gamers and the squad, they’re in all probability the place they need to be.
‘Obviously they’re an enormous membership with a pleasant, new stadium however I simply don’t assume the gamers are good sufficient to compete on the top-end of the Premier League.
‘I think Spurs will just be fine, I don’t assume they’ll get relegated, however they’re down there proper now and they had been in an analogous state of affairs final season.
‘It’s an enormous fear for them, an enormous concern for the membership whether or not or not they keep within the Premier League as a result of they’ve gone backwards.’
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