Eberechi Eze’s dream was to play for Arsenal, but it came to an untimely end when he was released from the club in 2011. In an interview with the Rising Ballers YouTube channel, he admitted crying over it immensely.
Eze has been making a name for himself since signing for Crystal Palace from Queens Park Rangers in 2020. However, recently he said that it was his dream to play for the Gunners.
The attacker was released by the club at the age of 13 and had to face a series of rejections at other high-profile English clubs before finding his feet at QPR, where he started to gain attention.
“Started off at Arsenal, I think I was eight. I got released when I was 13. I went to Fulham. From there I went to Reading. Then got released from there,”
“Bare rejections. A lot of rejections. Then went to Millwall having to then try and prove yourself again, which is difficult. It didn’t work out and I got released from there”.
the 23-year-old said.
Eze also shed light on the fact that the rejection from Arsenal was the most difficult to digest. However, the silver lining to the situation is that it prepared him for further rejections because there was nothing more to lose.
“Arsenal was probably the hardest. My dream was to play for them. Hearing them say ‘no’ at 13 was tough. I remember training after I got released and I couldn’t focus because I was crying.
But it helped me so much in all the other rejections because, if I can get through Arsenal releasing me, then I can get through any other team releasing me. My mindset was if it was not going to be Arsenal I have to find somewhere else.”
the 23-year-old Eze.
The talented attacking midfielder had a fruitful debut season for Palace in 2020. He scored four goals and provided six assists in just 29 Premier League starts – impressive numbers for a 23-year-old.
