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Arsenal kicked off their Champions League 2025/26 journey with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club on Tuesday night. Goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard saw them pick up all three points.

Mikel Arteta had to rely on his bench to turn the tide of the game, as some of Arsenal's new summer signings struggled initially to make an impact. The experienced players were brought on to secure the win for the Gunners, marking a crucial tactical shift by the Arsenal manager.

Eberechi Eze was among those who found it tough against Athletic Club on his Champions League debut. It was perhaps surprising given his stellar performance against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

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However, a video circulating on social media highlights a significant problem Arteta will need to address in the coming weeks if he hopes to maximise the potential of the England international.

It's safe to say the match didn't play to Eze's strengths, who seemed to prefer operating in the space behind Athletic Club's midfield and ahead of their defence.

At one point, Arteta could be seen instructing the Gunners' playmaker to stay wide, with Riccardo Calafiori already moving inside to take up the No. 10 position.

Eze is one of the Premier League's top performers when he has the freedom to operate between the lines, but in this instance, midway through the first half, Arteta was correct in directing him to stay wide.

The ball found its way to the England ace, validating Arteta's instruction. However, some supporters on social media criticised the Arsenal boss by underlining Eze's potential in the No. 10 role.

This presents a tactical puzzle for Arteta. Calafiori had already moved inside in this scenario, and the Italian international has been impressive this season with his attacking runs and defensive contributions. However, with one player excelling and the other faltering, Arteta will recognise the need to strike a balance to maximise both players' impact on the left, rather than restricting Eze's offensive prowess.

If the strategy was to maintain width, then Martinelli was the ideal candidate for that role – as his goal and assist demonstrated.

"Martinelli did more in five minutes than Eze did in 70 minutes," Steve McManaman commented on TNT Sports. "Eze will watch that performance tonight when he goes back and say, 'This is a different class of opposition.'

"They're quicker, stronger than he faced in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, and he knows his level will have to jump up. You're now playing big boy football in the Champions League. If you want to compete, you have to be quicker, you have to be better than he showed tonight."

McManaman's comments hold some truth, but it's also worth noting that it's still early in the season, and Eze will still be adjusting to his new team-mates and style of play. Arteta also has the task of ensuring he's maximising the 27-year-old's potential by playing him in a position where he can effectively influence the game.

The Gunners head coach now boasts a much deeper squad compared to previous seasons, and having the option to bring players off the bench to alter the course of matches is a welcome change. Just as Eze will require time to adapt, so too will Arteta need time to figure out how best to deploy his new stars.

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