By Oliver Powell
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara has claimed Arsenal playmaker Eberechi Eze is at risk of missing out on a place in England’s World Cup squad.
In an exclusive interview with 10bet, O’Hara expressed his concerns over Eze’s ability to command a regular place in Mikel Arteta’s side after his summer switch from Crystal Palace.
Eze has managed four goals and two assists in his 22 Premier League games for Arsenal so far this season.
England’s strength in depth
Whilst Eze was a member of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, the form of other players in his position makes it difficult to justify his inclusion in the upcoming trip to North America.
O’Hara picked out some names he believes may be included over Eze.
The 39-year-old said: “I think with wide players like Harvey Barnes, you’ve got Marcus Rashford, you’ve got Anthony Gordon. We talk about the number tens that we’ve got on offer in midfield – his position absolutely is under threat.
“I don’t think he’ll go to the World Cup.”
Other attackers such as Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden provide stiff competition for Eze to earn a place in Tuchel’s 26-man squad.
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Struggling to find his feet at Arsenal
O’Hara’s biggest concern surrounding Eze was his failure to settle at Arsenal in Arteta’s highly-demanding system, which provides less freedom than at Crystal Palace.
O’Hara said: “Everyone in Arsenal’s system, they play a certain way and everyone plays into Arteta’s system.
“Eze’s not really that player. I feel like Eze’s a bit of a luxury player.
“I always called him a bit of a drifter. He’s in and out of a game and at Crystal Palace you can get away with that.
“You can drift out of the game, let the defence do what they’ve got to do, the game gets a bit scrappy and then he’ll produce a big moment.
“When you go to Arsenal, you can’t do that. You have got to be on it, part of the team.
“Everything about your game has got to be on for 90 minutes.
“I just don’t think that’s Eze’s game and I think he struggled in Arteta’s system.”
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