Wayne Rooney Says Arsenal Star Eberechi Eze Has ‘Not Been Good Enough’ Since £67.5m Summer Transfer

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney delivers blunt verdict on Eberechi Eze Arsenal form despite derby heroics in 4–1 Tottenham win.

ArsenalTalks News Analysis | February 23, 2026

Arsenal 4–1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League and underlined their title credentials — but former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney has delivered a brutal assessment of Eberechi Eze season, claiming the midfielder has “not been good enough” since his big-money summer move.

Eze was one of the standout performers in the North London derby, scoring twice as Arsenal repeated their earlier 4–1 win over Spurs this season. Viktor Gyökeres also grabbed a brace in a dominant display that came just days after turmoil at Tottenham.

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Despite the heroics, Rooney believes Eze’s overall contribution across the season has fallen short of expectations following his £67.5 million transfer from Crystal Palace.

Speaking on the BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney rejected praise for Eze’s mentality and character after the derby performance.

“I disagree a bit because I don’t think he’s been good enough this season,” Rooney said. “The two Tottenham games have shined a big light on him, but in other games I’ve watched him and not thought he’s been good enough.”

Rooney questioned Eze’s consistency and challenged his mentality in terms of fighting for a regular place in the starting XI.

“When you talk about mentality and character, if I was him I’d be trying to make it very difficult for the manager to leave me out — both with performances and in training,” he added.

“Clearly he’s not doing enough to warrant a place in the team consistently. I get that Ødegaard is the captain, but you’ve got to make it almost impossible for Arteta to leave you out.”

Consistency under the spotlight

Eze arrived at the Emirates in August 2025 in a £67.5m deal, with Arsenal dramatically hijacking a move that Tottenham believed was close to completion. He joined as a high-profile signing expected to add creativity, goals, and versatility across the front line.

His output has been uneven. He has scored six Premier League goals this season — five of them against Tottenham. He was substituted at half-time in the 1–1 draw with Brentford and remained an unused substitute in the 2–2 home draw with Wolves, highlighting his fluctuating role under Mikel Arteta.

Rooney believes that pattern explains why Eze has struggled to cement a consistent starting role.

“After the first Tottenham game I don’t think he did enough to stay in the team,” Rooney said. “You just hope now he plays better consistently to stay in the side. He needs to perform better than he has so far this season.”

Rooney did acknowledge Eze’s qualities, particularly in advanced areas, but still pointed to Martin Ødegaard as the more complete and reliable option in Arteta’s system.

“I think Eze is better in the penalty box, but Ødegaard is better when he’s deeper,” Rooney said. “He’s very clever, his movement is very good, and he picks up great positions. You just want to see a bit more from Eze in the final third.”

Rooney added that while Eze offers England a different tactical option, consistency remains the biggest issue in his Arsenal career so far.

Pressure of a title run-in

Arsenal are chasing their first Premier League title since 2004 and face a demanding run-in. With pressure rising, Arteta needs reliability, rhythm, and consistency from his attacking players.

For Eze, the challenge is clear: turn derby brilliance into sustained league form.

Rooney’s message is blunt but simple — big games alone are not enough. Elite players must deliver week after week.

If Eze can build on his north London heroics, he can silence the criticism. If not, questions over his £67.5m price tag and long-term role in Arteta’s title project will only grow louder.

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