I managed Eberechi Eze and this is why he’ll take Arsenal and the World Cup by storm

Eberechi Eze made his Arsenal debut in the defeat to Liverpool at Anfield before joining up with the England squad ahead of games against Andorra and Serbia

Eberechi Eze’s former boss thinks his big money move to Arsenal can help cement him as one of England’s key players going into the World Cup next year.

Mark Warburton coached Eze at Queens Park Rangers the season before he made his move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace. The 27-year-old has now made the £67.5m switch to Arsenal, returning to the club where he played as a boy.

Eze enjoyed his best season at QPR under Warburton, scoring 14 goals in the 2019/20 campaign, and the former West Ham assistant manager says he knew he had a special talent after taking over at the west London club.

“He was one of those players, Ebere, who every single day would do something that just caught your attention,” he said. “It might just be one piece of control where he brought a ball out of the air. It might be a strike on goal after he cuts inside. It might be the way he glides across the pitch. He was just one of those players.

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“Over the years, you work with various players who have that ability. Ebere certainly fell into that category.

“We played West Ham in a behind-closed-doors game at the London Stadium, and Ebere was outstanding, absolutely outstanding. I remember talking to Declan later at West Ham about how good Ebere was on that day, and here we are, jump forward a couple of years, and he’s joined Dec at Arsenal.”

Eze has established himself as a regular in the England squad thanks to his performances for Palace, and has again been called up by boss Thomas Tuchel for the games against Andorra and Serbia this month.

He faces stiff competition for a starting place in England’s attack, however, but Warburton believes he now has the platform to establish himself as a regular starter for his country.

“He’s got the potential now, with this move to Arsenal, he’s on a stage whereby you hope very much he can cement himself in Thomas’ thinking,” Warburton said. “The World Cup next year in the USA is going to be a huge tournament, let’s hope he keeps fit, stays well, and can showcase his ability.”

Eze has had to deal with plenty of setbacks during his career, including being let go by Arsenal, Fulham, Reading and Millwall before finding his way to QPR. And Warburton says it is Eze’s mental strength and exemplary attitude which have helped him make it to the top.

“He’s just a really solid character, a really good character,” he said. “Not loud, not a screamer, but stands up for what he thinks is right.

“He’s a player who gave himself the best chance to maximise his potential, and there’s no doubt he’s done that.

“There’s many, many people who would have given up on the way. Many people would have just gone to work somewhere and played part-time football, whatever, but Ebere has stuck to it.

“I’m just delighted for him, genuinely delighted for him, because I think he’s the type of individual that will grace a stadium like Arsenal, but also his strength of character and quality of character will endear him to the Arsenal fans as well.”

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