Eberechi Eze has been warned he may have to settle for a different Arsenal role if Max Dowman can make the most of his latest chance.
The teenage sensation has been handed a start in the No.10 role against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Arsenal head to Highbury Stadium to face the League Two side on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals, live on talkSPORT.
Dowman has once again been handed the opportunity to impress from the start after his record-breaking display in the last round.
The 16-year-old scored twice in a 4-2 away win over Ipswich Town.
With Martin Odegaard only on the bench, he has now been chosen ahead of Eze to start in the No.10 position.
Dowman’s new Arsenal role
Former Arsenal stars Adrian Clarke and Perry Groves believe whilst it is an opportunity for Dowman, it could spell bad news for Eze.
The pair discussed the competition for places in that area of the pitch during the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Gooners alongside host Nick Bright.
Calling for Dowman to play centrally, Clarke explained: “Max Dowman at 10 for me.
“He was unbelievable, it was one of the best performances I’ve seen by anyone actually this season in the game against Ipswich.
“Dowman was outrageously good and I’d like to think he could do something similar against Fleetwood, who will try to make it a battle.
“But truth be told, we should be able to ‘out-football’ them and get the job done with a degree of comfort.
“It’s an important night for Max because with Bukayo Saka out now, he will be more in the manager’s thinking as an option to start Premier League games.
“What we need from him in this match is another eye-catching display.”
Saka is set to be sidelined until at least the start of December with a quad injury.
His absence could open the door for Dowman, who has predominantly featured on the right for the Gunners.
However, the forward starred in the No.10 against Ipswich last month and now has the chance to do so again away to Fleetwood.
Eze warning
As for what this could mean for Eze, Groves was asked if the 28-year-old will have been wanting to play in that position on Tuesday night.
He replied: “It’s not a bad position to be in for Mikel Arteta when you’re talking about three No.10s who have that amount of quality.
“I think for Eze, he’s just got to concentrate on wherever he plays, and it looks like he’s going to get a run on the left-hand side, he’s got to make sure he reaches the levels like he did against Bayern Munich.
“I thought he looked sharper against Everton. He looked sharper on the ball. When he’s flowing, he’s got that sort of fluidity. He’s very graceful in his movement.
“He had about three or four shots from distance against Everton, where he had one thing in his mind to get the ball out of his feet and get a shot away.
“Whereas before, because he was lacking a little bit of confidence, he was playing very safe. He was going square, he was going back.
“I just think with Eberechi Eze, he’s not really in a position to go and knock on Mikel Arteta’s door and demand he wants to play in the 10 position.”
Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace for £67million last summer, penning a four-year deal at the Emirates Stadium.
However, the England midfielder has been afforded just five starts across all competitions this season.
Each of those outings have seen Eze deployed on the left-hand side of the front three, with his only appearances in the No.10 coming as a substitute.
Despite coming off the bench to score as an attacking midfielder against Bayern Munich last week, he returned to the wing from the start at the weekend.
The latest setback for Eze comes after he was warned he may have to settle for a cameo role at Arsenal.
He has completed 90 minutes just nine times, though, with only 41 starts to his name since his arrival in August 2025.
