When he walked out at Emirates Stadium for the first time as a Gunner ahead of our game against Leeds United, Ebere Eze could be forgiven for taking a lingering look at a certain spot of our home.
A boyhood Gooner, the England winger spent five years in our academy before being released aged 13, but ever since those teenage years he admits he never gave up hope that he would one day pull on our famous red and white shirt again.
That was a hope also held by his mother, and Ebere feels their faith, belief and hard work have paid off with his destiny finally being realised now he has completed his move from Crystal Palace.
Reflecting on his path back to us, Ebere said: “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.
Despite achieving plenty in the game already in his career, the England winger and boyhood Gooner has always held a strong desire to play for the team he and his family supported growing up, and emulate the players that he idolised from the stands.
He played four times on our turf during his time with Crystal Palace, and scored on his last visit back in April when the sides played out a 2-2 draw. However, he confessed that on all those occasions, he was aiming to catch the eye of our decision makers, and fulfil a dream come true.
“I thought about coming back from the moment I understood other clubs and what it meant to become a pro,” he revealed to Ian Wright after signing for us. “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 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, and 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.
“As a player, I have a level of belief in myself. 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. But if it doesn’t, I’m at peace because I know I’m giving everything. So for it to happen now and to be in this position, there is a bit more energy inside the tank.
Ebere also revealed to Wrighty about his conversations with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta, and is encouraged that they will help him take his game to the next level as he aims to keep his career moving on the same upward trajectory.
He admits that playing alongside Three Lions teammates Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Myles Lewis-Skelly will help him bed into the squad quickly, but also help him achieve his aim of improving by playing with world-class players week in, week out.
On his early encounter with Mikel, he said: “I can see his energy, I can see the level of passion that he has. That’s everything I need, I know that, I can see that. Andrea Berta as well, I know they’re going to make me better.
“There were talks about position, but as long as I’m on the pitch and given the opportunity to play and express myself in that environment, then it doesn’t matter where I’m playing. Of course, he has ideas and things that he wants, but for me, I’m free.
“It definitely makes it easier to settle into an environment if you know you’ve got guys that will be honest with you, will help you and put an arm around you when you need it. So, for me, it’s the perfect environment and a step on from where I’ve been.
“I’m only going to get better, I’m only going to improve, I’m only going to work harder, so, for me, it feels like the perfect environment to do everything that I’ve dreamed of.”
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2025 has certainly been an incredible year for Ebere. In March, he scored his first England goal at Wembley, April saw him net there during Palace’s FA Cup semi-final win against Aston Villa and May saw him immortalise himself in the club’s history by bagging the only goal of the final as they beat Manchester City to clinch their first ever major honour.
Only a few weeks ago he helped the Eagles add the Community Shield to their honours board. Having lifted silverware in recent months, he is desperate to keep adding to his medal haul in north London, and make the same supporters he used to sit in the stands with experience the same joy that he’s had recently.
“I just want to win, I want to win whatever’s there,” he smiled. “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.
“I’ve seen what it means, I’ve seen what you can do, not just to your teammates and the staff but I can see what you can do to people when you win, when you bring that type of joy to the place. So to be part of that, that’s my aim.”
