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The unsustainable trend and underlying deficiency Arsenal have to address if they’re to keep winning – and why Eberechi Eze being Mikel Arteta’s fall guy is a worrying case of deja-vu, writes ISAAN KHAN

ISAAN KHAN AT THE CITY GROUND: It's Arsenal's recent style of play which results have masked, an underlying deficiency defying the 10 victories of their 11 matches.

By ISAAN KHAN · Daily Mail

Published: Monday, 19 October 2026 at 6:00 AM

Key Things to Know

Isaan Khan argues Arsenal's bench reliance masks creative deficiencies and criticizes Mikel Arteta's handling of Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 via an 80th-minute deflected goal from substitute Noni Madueke.
The Gunners have failed to score in the first half in six consecutive matches.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Isaan Khan argues that Arsenal's reliance on second-half bench interventions masks an unsustainable deficiency in chance creation, highlighted by their 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest. Mikel Arteta's side failed to score in the first half for a sixth consecutive match and recorded just one shot on target, which came when substitute Noni Madueke scored an 80th-minute winner.

The writer expresses concern over Eberechi Eze's role as Arteta's fall guy after the winger was substituted at half-time during his first league start of the campaign. Khan notes that Eze struggled for confidence, drawing parallels to a similar early withdrawal against Aston Villa in December 2025.

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