Alan Shearer Surprised by Arteta’s Decision to Bench Eberechi Eze Against Liverpool

Alan Shearer questions Mikel Arteta’s decision to bench Eberechi Eze in Arsenal narrow defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

Premier League icon Alan Shearer has expressed his surprise over Mikel Arteta’s decision not to start Eberechi Eze in Arsenal match against Liverpool. The game, played at Anfield, ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for the Gunners.

Eze, who recently joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace in a high-profile £67.5 million transfer, was expected to make his full debut in this crucial fixture. However, Arteta chose to leave him out of the starting XI, bringing him on only in the 70th minute to replace Gabriel Martinelli.

Buy Arsenal's 2025–26 Home Kit through the ArsenalTalks Shop

Click this link to buy the new 2025–26 Arsenal home kit through our ArsenalTalks Shop.

Alan Shearer, speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, questioned the decision:

“I was a little bit surprised with Arsenal not playing Eze. Why does he need easing in? It’s not as if he hasn’t played, he’s played all season already and he’s already played Liverpool this season.”

Eze Made an Impact Late in the Game

Despite limited time on the pitch, Eze showed flashes of brilliance. He nearly found space to score in the closing minutes, but was denied by a strong defensive effort from Joe Gomez. His brief performance left fans wondering what might have been if he had started.

Arsenal will face Nottingham Forest after the international break. Supporters and pundits alike are eager to see whether Arteta will give Eze a starting role in the next match. With Arsenal aiming to bounce back from their first loss of the season, Eze’s creativity could be key.

Want more Arsenal updates? Visit our homepage.