At the Gtech Community Stadium, under the bright lights and the noise of hopeful supporters, Arsenal walked onto the pitch knowing something very important. Just one day earlier, Manchester City had done their job. They had beaten Fulham 3–0. They had closed the gap. They had sent a message.
And now it was Arsenal’s turn to respond.
But football does not always follow the script.
Instead of a powerful statement, Arsenal left with frustration. Instead of extending their lead, they dropped two valuable points. Instead of celebrating, they were left asking difficult questions.
The final score was 1-1 against Brentford. A draw that felt like a loss.
And at the center of the debate was one name: Eberechi Eze.
Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe did not hold back. Speaking as a pundit, he looked at the performance and said clearly that Eze “was not good enough.”
Strong words. Painful words.
But this is the Premier League. And when you fight for the title, every performance is examined closely.
Arsenal came into this season with big dreams. After finishing second three years in a row, the club hierarchy decided enough was enough. They opened their wallets. They invested heavily. Over £250 million was spent on new players. The message was clear: win the title now.
Among those signings was Eberechi Eze, the creative star known for his flair, confidence and ability to unlock tight defenses. He arrived with excitement around him. Many believed he would be the missing piece in Mikel Arteta’s system.
But football is not only about talent. It is also about timing, rhythm and confidence.
Eze has struggled to fully establish himself in the starting eleven. In 20 Premier League appearances, he has scored four goals. But three of those came in a single match. He has provided just two assists. For a player expected to change games regularly, those numbers feel small.
Against Brentford, Arsenal started brightly. They dominated possession. They tried to control the tempo. They looked sharp in moments.
Then came a moment of beauty.
Noni Madueke rose high inside the box and powered in a brilliant header. It was a goal full of power and precision. Arsenal celebrated. It felt like the breakthrough they needed.
But Brentford are not an easy team. Everyone knows that when you go to Brentford, you will face intensity. You will face physical battles. You will face a team that believes.
Keane Lewis-Potter equalised later, cancelling out Arsenal’s advantage. And from that moment, the mood changed.
Defoe pointed to something deeper than tactics. He talked about pressure.
He said yes, Brentford is a difficult place to go. But champions must find a way to make difficult places feel manageable. Champions must cut out mistakes. Champions must stay focused.
In his view, Arsenal did not do that.
He said Brentford were better in the second half. He said Arsenal wasted the first half. He questioned concentration levels. He questioned mentality.
And when it came to Eze, he was direct.
He said Eze was not good enough.
He added something interesting though. He said Eze looks like he is playing with the handbrake on. That he might not be fully match fit. That maybe he has not played enough games to feel free.
But even with those excuses, Defoe said you still expect more.
That expectation is important.
When you cost big money, expectations rise. When you join a title-chasing side, expectations double. When your team is leading the league, every small mistake becomes magnified.
Theo Walcott also shared his thoughts.
He spoke about the pressure that comes when Manchester City win the day before. He described that feeling of knowing you must respond. Of knowing the title race is tightening.
He said the pressure is always there.
But he also reminded everyone that the title is still in Arsenal’s hands. There are still games left. There is still time.
Yet he admitted something else: Arteta will not be happy.
Managers rarely show everything in public. But inside the dressing room, after a draw like this, the conversation will be honest.
Arteta has built Arsenal into a disciplined, structured team. He demands high standards. He demands concentration. He demands intensity in every phase of play.
On this night, that level dropped.
Arsenal were not terrible. But they were not sharp enough. Not clinical enough. Not focused enough.
In a title race, that can be the difference between lifting the trophy and finishing second again.
The bigger picture makes this draw feel heavier.
Manchester City are relentless. Under Pep Guardiola, they chase you down. They do not disappear. They keep winning. They keep applying pressure.
The gap is now just four points.
Four points can disappear quickly.
This is why performances are analysed so deeply.
Eze’s situation is complicated.
He is talented. Everyone can see that. His dribbling ability, his balance, his creativity – those qualities are rare.
But sometimes at Arsenal, he looks unsure. Like he is thinking too much. Like he is afraid to take risks.
That is what Defoe meant by playing with the handbrake on.
When you play with fear, you hesitate. When you hesitate, defenders recover. When defenders recover, attacks slow down.
Arsenal’s system under Arteta is structured. Positions are strict. Movements are rehearsed. It is very different from a free-flowing, unpredictable environment.
Some players adapt quickly. Others need time.
Eze might still be adapting.
But time is something title challengers do not always have.
Fans are divided.
Some believe he needs patience. They point to his quality and say it will come. They argue that new players often need a season to fully understand Arteta’s tactical demands.
Others are more critical. They believe that with such heavy investment, immediate impact is required.
The Brentford draw also highlighted something else: Arsenal’s mentality under pressure.
Defoe said he thinks it is a mentality thing.
That is a serious claim.
For years, critics said Arsenal lacked the mental strength to go all the way. Under Arteta, they improved. They became more resilient. They became harder to beat.
But in moments like this, old doubts resurface.
When Manchester City win, can Arsenal respond calmly? Or does anxiety creep in?
Against Brentford, it looked like anxiety.
The second half felt tense. Passes were rushed. Decisions were delayed. The rhythm was broken.
Brentford sensed it. They pushed forward. They believed.
And they earned their point.
Arteta will analyse every detail. He will look at positioning. He will review pressing triggers. He will examine transitions.
But he will also speak about mindset.
Because winning a title is not only about tactics. It is about handling pressure in March and April when the stakes are highest.
Eze’s critics say he drifts out of games. That he does not impose himself enough. That he waits for the ball instead of demanding it.
Yet supporters of the player say he needs trust. They say rhythm comes from starts. Confidence comes from minutes.
The numbers tell part of the story. Four goals. Two assists. For a creative attacker, that is modest.
But numbers do not always show influence.
Still, on this particular night, influence was missing.
Arsenal’s other summer signings are also under the spotlight. When you spend over £250m, every signing must contribute.
The club wanted to avoid another runners-up finish. They wanted to go one step further.
And they still can.
The table does not lie. Arsenal remain at the top. The destiny is still in their hands.
But the margin for error is shrinking.
Manchester City have experience. They have won multiple titles. They understand how to manage pressure in the final stretch.
Arsenal are still proving themselves in that regard.
This draw is not a disaster. But it is a warning.
A warning that standards must remain high.
A warning that focus must not drop.
A warning that individual performances matter deeply at this stage of the season.
For Eze, the next few weeks are crucial.
He has a choice.
He can let criticism affect him. Or he can use it as fuel.
Great players respond to doubt with performances.
Arteta will likely continue rotating. He will demand more intensity in training. He will remind his squad that every match is a final now.
The dressing room atmosphere after the game would have been quiet. Disappointed faces. Deep breaths. Maybe frustration.
But the season is not over.
There are still big games ahead. Big moments. Big opportunities.
The clash between Arsenal and Manchester City later in the season could decide everything.
Walcott hinted at that. He said everyone will look at that game.
And he is right.
In title races, head-to-head battles are huge.
But before that, Arsenal must handle the smaller tests. The away grounds. The tricky fixtures. The nights where nothing flows easily.
Because champions find ways to win even when they are not at their best.
Against Brentford, Arsenal were not at their best.
Defoe’s words will echo: “Not good enough.”
Harsh? Maybe.
But elite football is harsh.
Eze will know that himself. Professional players are often their own biggest critics.
He knows he can offer more.
The question now is whether he will show it.
As the Premier League title race heats up, every detail counts. Every touch. Every decision. Every moment of concentration.
Four points is not a big gap.
Four points can disappear in one weekend.
Arsenal still control their fate. But control can slip quickly if performances do not improve.
The pressure will only grow from here.
And in pressure, true character is revealed.
For Arsenal, for Arteta, for Eze — the real test has just begun.
