Arsenal is exactly where I want to be – Eberechi Eze

2026-02-10 - 21:09

By Emmanuel Okogba Six months after completing a high-profile move back to his boyhood club Arsenal from Crystal Palace, attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze says he is thriving in the high-intensity environment at the Emirates and remains fully focused on delivering silverware. The 27-year-old, who left Arsenal’s academy at age 13, returned in a late-summer transfer shortly after scoring the winning goal for Palace in the 2025 FA Cup final. Since then, he has quickly become a key figure under manager Mikel Arteta, scoring his first Arsenal goal in a Carabao Cup win over Port Vale, netting against former club Palace in the Premier League, and producing a memorable hat-trick in a 4-1 north London derby victory over Tottenham—the first player to claim the match ball in the fixture in nearly 50 years. In an exclusive interview with the club, Eze reflected on his seamless integration, the increased tactical demands, and his love for the relentless fixture schedule. “It’s been really good,” Eze said of his first half-season. “There has been loads of learning, loads of improving, playing with big players, playing in a squad that has so much depth. It’s been a good challenge for me and something I needed in my career for sure.” He highlighted the biggest adjustment as the depth of pre-match analysis and preparation. “There’s a lot of detail that goes into how we approach a game... it’s definitely something that’s necessary but something that maybe took a bit of time to adjust to,” he explained, adding that the detailed video work has helped him “see the game through a different lens” and make better on-pitch decisions. Despite playing 32 matches so far—including European fixtures—Eze insists he is physically and mentally in rhythm. “I really like it. Just being in the rhythm of always playing games and always competing—that’s the fun part about football,” he said. He acknowledged the mental demands are tougher than the physical, describing the need to “stay locked in for a full season, when every game matters,” but views it as the necessary sacrifice for success. Eze also spoke about balancing individual creativity with team responsibilities. “I feel I can bring something different to the other players in the team... but the importance of it merging and connecting with the relationships around you, that’s the main thing,” he noted. He credited early lessons from academy days and his time at QPR—where he faced relegation pressure—for teaching him to shut out external noise and focus on his own expectations. The midfielder expressed excitement for big moments, including upcoming north London derbies and a return to Wembley in the Carabao Cup final. “I love it, man. This is exactly where I want to be... you play football for these moments, for these high-pressure games,” he said. He views nerves positively: “I see nerves as my body preparing me for the moment... that’s what makes it special.” With Arsenal chasing multiple trophies, Eze remains grounded—often reminded of real-world pressures by his wife, an ICU nurse. “I come home and I’m thinking about X, Y and Z and then I get a reality check... it just humbles you,” he laughed. As the season intensifies, Eze’s message is clear: he is fully committed to the collective goal. “The focus is always just on the next game,” he concluded.