Eze to Soldier On Despite Brentford Flop as Odegaard Injury Clouds Arsenal's Wigan Clash

Arsenal's midfield woes deepened following their frustrating 1-1 stalemate at Brentford on Thursday, with Eberechi Eze facing criticism for a performance that fell well short of expectations—yet still appears destined for another starting berth.

Mikel Arteta hauled Eze off at the interval as the Gunners were repeatedly outmuscled by Keith Andrews' determined side. Noni Madueke had given Arsenal a foothold with a 60th-minute opener, but Keane Lewis-Potter's leveller left the visitors clinging on desperately as Brentford's aerial threat proved a persistent thorn throughout the second half.

Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe pulled no punches in his assessment. "Eze was not good enough," he stated bluntly, describing the £60m summer recruit as still operating with "the handbrake on" despite acknowledging match fitness concerns. Defoe conceded the Gunners' evening was defined by lapses in concentration and poor set-piece management, though he attributed some of the malaise to mental fragility under pressure.

Peter Crouch was equally unforgiving, labelling Eze a "passenger" before his substitution.

The real headache for Arteta, however, concerns his skipper. Martin Odegaard returned from a two-match absence and made a tangible impact after the break, yet the captain was spotted limping onto the team bus following the final whistle. The injury scare materialised when he challenged Lewis-Potter during the Brentford goal and required treatment before somehow completing the match.

With Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz already sidelined, an Odegaard absence would leave Arsenal's midfield threadbare heading into Sunday's FA Cup tie against Wigan. Arteta will demand a sharp response after a display that left ex-Gunners forward Theo Walcott unimpressed. "He will not be happy," Walcott said. "He will be unhappy with a lot of players as well tonight because they were indifferent."

The pressure intensified after Manchester City collected three points on Wednesday, keeping the title race firmly in the balance despite Arsenal's games in hand.