Arsenal are already seeing a change Gary Neville expected to take ‘five to ten years’

Against Nottingham Forest, Mikel Arteta went with a front three of Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze for the first time.

Madueke took over from Bukayo Saka on the right wing, while Eze stepped in for Gabriel Martinelli on the left.

Arsenal found great success as both players significantly influenced the game, leading Neville to express his surprise at the impact of the two new wingers.

On The Gary Neville Podcast, the Manchester United legend did not hesitate to state that he did not expect to see Arsenal performing so well with wingers other than Martinelli and Saka.

“Madueke, Eze, when you think about Martinelli and Saka, you thought they would dominate the left and right wing of Arsenal for the next five to ten years,” the Sky Sports pundit said.

“Yet you’re watching two players yesterday, and obviously Saka will come back in, and Martinelli will play, but Madueke is a lot better than I imagined and thought he would be, and certainly a lot better than Arsenal fans thought he would be.”

Neville’s observation is backed by recent history. After the 2022/23 season, few would have predicted that just three seasons later there would be serious competition for those roles.

That year, Saka and Martinelli combined for 45 goal contributions in the league. But as Martinelli’s form dropped off over time, it opened up space for someone like Eze to step into the picture.

Arsenal’s wing depth takes centre stage after Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze make their mark

Eze wasted no time making his presence felt, quickly showing that he offers more than Martinelli. By half-time, it was clear he was ready to take ownership of the left side.

Madueke’s path is a bit trickier, with Saka firmly established in the starting line-up and not likely to be displaced anytime soon.

Even so, it is a good problem for Arteta to have. The growing competition for places only strengthens his options across the front line.

The gap between Arsenal’s starters and backups is closing fast. With Eze and Madueke stepping up, there is a new level of competition throughout the squad.