Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces an Eberechi Eze problem while one eye is already focusing on the January transfer window with a £55million signing touted

Arsenal return to Champions League action on Wednesday against Bayern Munich in a real test of their European credentials this season against one of the favourites to win the trophy in June.

The Gunners will be feeling relieved having prevented themselves from slipping further behind in the Premier League table as they crawled to a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest to remain just three points adrift of league leaders Manchester City, but now have the opportunity to make it three wins from three in Europe.

Several members of the north London outfit's squad have been inconsistent this season, and the spotlight is starting to turn to Eberechi Eze the latest player to come under scrutiny. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest news from the Emirates.

Arteta's Eze problem identified

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Former Premier League boss Alan Pardew fears Eze is unable to deliver what Mikel Arteta demands from either a No. 10 or a left winger.

Pardew suggested the ex-Crystal Palace star — hauled off for match-winner Noni Madueke at the break on Sunday — may have to accept a role coming off the bench going forward. "In certain games, against lesser opposition, Eze will be given that No. 10 position," Pardew told talkSPORT.

"But I've seen him on that left side for Crystal Palace a few times and it's just not him.. Make sure you don't miss the best Arsenal coverage by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources.. "He's never going to go down the left hand side and whip crosses in, he wants to come and play centrally. He's going to make the game too narrow and therefore you've not got enough width, so it's a problem."

"Arteta took him off rightly, in my opinion, as it just wasn't working. In the first instance though, perhaps he shouldn't have started him there, and used him as an impact as a No.10.

"And I think that will be his role at Arsenal, if they need a goal. I don't think Eze is going to be a starter for Arsenal, I think he's a sub and if they need a moment, then the manager can give him the last 10-15 minutes of games."

Araujo talks cooling off

Both Arsenal and Premier League rivals Manchester United have been linked with Sporting CP ace Maxi Araujo over recent months. However, Sport Witness reports that neither club has ramped up their pursuit since failing to lure the Uruguayan away from Lisbon during the summer transfer window.

This comes despite rumours across Europe suggesting a £55million offer for the player could be imminent. That would mark a substantial profit on a player who joined from Mexican club Toluca in 2024, but the latest reports appear to be off the mark.

Araujo, who is capable of operating at left-back or on the left side of midfield, penned a contract extension in August that ties him to Portugal until 2030. He has registered one goal and two assists this season, but operates in a more advanced role for his national side and has found the net five times in his last six appearances for Uruguay.