Eberechi Eze has revealed that it was only encouragement from Declan Rice that ultimately led to his Arsenal transfer last summer.
Eberechi Eze was one of the big transfer stories of the 2025 summer window, with Tottenham Hotspur pushing hard to sign the midfielder only for Arsenal to hijack the deal late on.
Speaking to the Arsenal website, Eze has now revealed that Declan Rice played a key role in the hijack, convincing the Crystal Palace player to have a phone call with Mikel Arteta.
“I’m only here because Declan told me to just call him,” Eze confirmed.
Eze believes the move was meant to be, and Arsenal report that the player feels the message came from a higher power through Rice to change the course of his life.
It certainly seems as though he’s happy with his decision to have that phone call, saying: “What Mikel has done is special. I don’t think you’ll understand the effect he’s had and what it takes to create something like he’s done.
“He’s come in and completely changed the whole identity and turned it into something else and put it in motion and allowed it to express itself and be free.
“The opportunity that’s provided is just insane. I have to thank him massively for that. I love that we were able to do this (winning the league) for him and to achieve this for him.”
From an Arsenal point of view, if you’ll excuse the phrasing, it all worked out. The Gunners won the league, and Eze had some big moments along the way.
The midfielder assisted a vital equaliser against Manchester City in September, he scored the winner against his old club Crystal Palace in October, he scored a hat-trick in the north London derby in November, then added another two goals in the reverse fixture in February.
At that point in February, Arsenal were faltering, dropping points against Brentford and Wolves. A defeat away to Spurs could have really shaken the team, ahead of another London derby at home to Chelsea.
Arsenal’s next misstep was in April, losing consecutive games to Bournemouth and Manchester City. Once again, Eze provided the response with his winner against Newcastle United.
There were so many important contributions by so many players in Arsenal’s eventual title success, including from Rice himself. The trophy win wasn’t down to any one individual by any means.
But Rice’s nudge to send Eze in Arteta’s direction is one of many factors that ultimately saw them all crowned champions of England.
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