EBERECHI EZE admits he was “on trial” at Arsenal for four years – trying to convince them to sign him every time he played against them.
The 27-year-old was unveiled as a Gunners player before Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Leeds after completing his £67.5m switch from Crystal Palace.
A boyhood Arsenal fan, Eze snubbed the chance to go to Tottenham as boss Mikel Arteta pulled off a stunning hijack to bring him back to North London.
Eze shed tears after being released from the Hale End academy aged 13, and made it his mission during his career so far to shine every time he rocked up at the Emirates.
He played for Palace away at Arsenal four times during his five-year spell at Selhurst Park, scoring on his last visit in a 2-2 draw back in April.
Eze explained: “I’ve been on trial for four years, if I’m being honest.
“Every time I came to Arsenal, I looked at the seat that I used to sit on when I used to come to games with my brothers.
“I’ve said every single time: ‘This is it – it’s time, this is an opportunity.’ I’m not going to say I knew it was going to happen, but that’s the feeling.
“I thought about coming back from the moment I understood other clubs and what it meant to become a pro. I’ve always thought: ‘Arsenal is where it’s at, that’s what I want to achieve, what I want to get to.’
“I’ve been playing how I’ve been playing, I’ve been developing this and that, and I had the heart that if it’s meant to be, it will happen, and I believe it will.
Arsenal’s transfer deals
IN
- Eberechi Eze – from Crystal Palace – £67.5m
- Viktor Gyökeres – from Sporting Lisbon – £64m
- Noni Madueke – from Chelsea – £52m
- Martin Zubimendi – from Real Sociedad – £51m
- Christian Norgaard – from Brentford – £15m
- Cristhian Mosquera – from Valencia – £13m
- Kepa Arrizabalaga – from Chelsea – £5m
TOTAL – £267.5m
OUT
- Nuno Taveres – to Lazio – £4.4m
- Marquinhos – to Cruzeiro – £2.6m
- Jorginho – to Flamengo – free
- Kieran Tierney – to Celtic – free
- Takehiro Tomiyasu – released
- Thomas Partey – released
TOTAL – £7m
ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE
“But if it doesn’t, I’m at peace because I know I’m giving everything. I remember the day I got released, my mum said a prayer that this reverse would happen.
“For me, this is a realisation of a prayer that we prayed for. This is deeper than anyone can understand. I can see God’s hand in it, so I know it’s meant to be.
“I’ve walked [out at the Emirates] before, but not as an Arsenal player. So to be on the other side, wearing the number 10, if you were to ask me where I want to be at this age, this is it.”
Eze is set to make his Prem debut for Arsenal away at Anfield in a blockbuster title-defining clash against Liverpool this weekend – especially with skipper Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka doubts with injuries picked up against Leeds.
On what he wants to achieve at Arsenal, Eze added: “I just want to win, I want to win whatever’s there.
“I feel like I’ve got a taste for it now, and to contribute, to give whatever I can to help the team win. I’m on it. That’s my mentality.”
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