Eze explains why he needed to leave Arsenal

Eberechi Eze believes he needed to leave Arsenal to become the person he is today, but he’s where he’s meant to be now.

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

It’s no secret that Eberechi Eze was on the books with Arsenal as a youth player, and that he was bitterly disappointed to have been released by the club long before making it to the first team.

But having now returned to north London many years later, Eze insists that he needed that time away to build his character and become the person he is now.

“I don’t think I’d be the same person if I went all the way through the academy,” Eze said. “I don’t think I’d have the same character that I do have now. So I’m grateful for the journey. I’m grateful for all that I’ve experienced and everything that’s led to this point.”

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“I feel like I’m just where I’m meant to be,” Eze insisted. “I’m enjoying working every day, enjoying applying myself.

“When I say ‘work’, I mean like grafting to achieve something. And that’s the mentality. And I’ll always enjoy that, I’ll always love that.

“And to be able to do that here (at Arsenal) is a special thing. I don’t think that feeling will leave.”

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

It’s been a solid start for Eze, with a goal and two assists in his first seven appearances for the club. Considering only four of those appearances were starts, the 27-year-old has made the most of his time on the pitch already.

But there hasn’t been much time to settle in.

With Arsenal’s attacking injuries and the pressure to achieve something this season, the club need Eze to keep delivering in the coming matches.