Rooney's Bold Prediction for Arsenal's New Star

Wayne Rooney has pinpointed Eberechi Eze as the crucial player who can elevate Viktor Gyokeres’ performance this season, once Eze secures his place in Arsenal’s starting lineup.

Eze's Promising Debut Amid Tough Conditions

Making his much-anticipated Arsenal debut in a tight 1-0 loss to Liverpool, Eze joined the team for a whopping £67.5 million from Crystal Palace this summer. Despite only featuring for 20 minutes, he faces strong competition from Gabriel Martinelli for the left wing spot under Mikel Arteta.

Rooney's Observations on Arsenal's Playstyle

After the match, Rooney expressed his thoughts on Match of the Day, stating, "[Arsenal have] got players to hurt teams. They brought in Eze to be part of that, but they need to find a way to incorporate Gyokeres into their system. Right now, their attacking play feels too similar to last season."

The Arsenal-Liverpool Clash: A Study in Individual Brilliance

In his analysis, Rooney admired Liverpool’s defensive duo, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, for effectively keeping Gyokeres at bay during the match. He remarked, "Liverpool excelled in individual battles and challenged Arsenal, particularly Gyokeres, throughout the game."

Questioning Goalkeeping Choices and New Challenges

The only goal of the match came from Dominik Szoboszlai’s spectacular free-kick, leading Rooney to question Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya's placement. He stated, "Everything has to be perfect for a goal like that to happen. It raises questions about Raya’s positioning, especially against a player with Szoboszlai’s confidence."

Adapting to New Challenges in the Premier League

In the aftermath, Raya attributed Szoboszlai’s goal partly to the new Premier League ball's different grip and kick, indicating that adaptation is necessary for the squad. He stated, "The new Puma ball feels different from the Nike ball. We have to get used to it."

Arsenal's Future: Finding the Right Balance

Rooney’s insightful commentary underscores the challenges Arsenal faces this season, emphasizing the need for more diverse attacking strategies to complement their new signings and unleash the potential of players like Gyokeres.