Crouch Blasts Eze as 'Passenger' in Arsenal Stalemate; Warns Arteta Time Running Out

Peter Crouch has laid into Eberechi Eze following Arsenal's disappointing Thursday evening draw with Brentford, suggesting the midfielder offered little during a first-half performance that left plenty to be desired.

Noni Madueke had given the Gunners the lead on the hour, dispatching a superb header from Piero Hincapie's cross past Caoimhin Kelleher with clinical finishing. Yet Brentford refused to lie down, with Keane Lewis-Potter heading home from a long throw to level matters. The hosts might well have snatched all three points, with Igor Thiago squandering a couple of golden opportunities as the visitors found themselves thoroughly outworked.

Eze's afternoon ended at the interval when Mikel Arteta opted to bring on captain Martin Odegaard, a decision Crouch fully endorsed. Speaking to TNT Sports, the former striker explained his reasoning: "Yeah, Eze couldn't get on the ball or make things work, he couldn't make things tick. Defensively he's probably not as good as Martin Odegaard either, he doesn't get around the pitch quick as much. It's disappointing for Eze, he's not played many games and has not managed to make an influence at all."

Elaborating on the England international's struggles, Crouch expanded: "He got a start today but he just felt off the boil. He couldn't get on the ball. I felt for him because he couldn't get on the ball and he doesn't give you what Odegaard does in terms of pressing and off the ball. He was a bit of a passenger if I'm being perfectly honest. We called it half an hour in that he was going to come off because for some reason he doesn't seem to fancy him at the moment."

Beyond Eze's anonymous showing, Crouch seized the opportunity to train his sights on Arteta, arguing the manager faces a genuine window of opportunity that mustn't be squandered. With the traditional powerhouses all showing signs of decline, Arsenal's failure to capitalize would invite serious scrutiny.

"Every year you're in the job you learn more," Crouch reflected. "The criticism he gets, he has the best squad in the league, he has a good group of players now, he has been in the job a long time. I don't think there are top, top teams in the league now. Man City are not the Man City of old, Liverpool aren't, Manchester United aren't what they have been, Chelsea the same. There is a lack of quality in the top areas. The bar has been set high in the past years. Now is a real opportunity for Arsenal. If they don't get over the line, there needs to be more questions answered."