Mikel Arteta defended Eberechi Eze's Fulham outing(Image: Vince Mignott/MB Media)

Mikel Arteta reckons Eberechi Eze's display against Fulham might have been perceived more favourably if Viktor Gyokeres had taken his scoring chances.

The former Crystal Palace ace struggled at times during the victory over the Cottagers as he frequently encountered congested areas.

However, Arteta has been pleased with Eze's impact at Arsenal thus far, even though the midfielder has yet to score outside the Carabao Cup following his summer transfer. The 27-year-old has managed just two assists so far this campaign.

Eze moved to the Gunners in a deal potentially worth £67.5million in August as Arsenal sought to strengthen their attacking muscle. Eze featured in Arsenal's midfield trio and as a No.10 against Fulham with Martin Odegaard sidelined through injury.

Leandro Trossard's solitary goal proved decisive after 58 minutes, with Arteta's team restricting their opponents to minimal chances. Eze was withdrawn shortly afterwards following a challenging performance.

Yet Arteta maintains his summer signing still contributed significantly, highlighting his adaptability and suggesting opinions might have differed had Gyokeres converted the opportunities created for him.

Continue Reading: Arteta says Gyokeres failure is behind Eberechi Eze Fulham verdict