EBERECHI EZE trusts his time will come with England – just like it did with Arsenal.
And when his moment arrives, the playmaker is ready to seize it.
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Eberechi Eze has spent the majority of his England career coming off the bench Credit: Getty
But just like last season with Arsenal, he’s ready to make a big impact when his chance comes along Credit: PA
Eze, 27, joined Arsenal for £67million last summer but had to wait patiently before making a big impact in their Premier League title triumph.
It is the same situation facing him with England at the World Cup, where he has had just 16 minutes of action so far, though he could get more against Panama tomorrow.
Asked if his experience this season for the Gunners is helpful for him with England, Eze replied: “It definitely does help. I feel like that’s the type of position I’ve been put in.
“It’s the mentality I’ve grown up having as well, staying ready, staying resilient, trusting that the time will come.
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“And whenever you’re called upon, being ready to express yourself and give what you’ve got.
“If that’s the case this tournament I’m sure I’ll be ready for that.”
Eze completed 90 minutes just twice for Arsenal in the Premier League before the turn of the year.
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This year’s World Cup is like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
But footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have other plans in what will likely be their final World Cup appearance.
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But he stayed patient and played a more influential role in the second half of the season as he helped the Gunners to their first title in 22 years.
Now he is bidding to end 60 years of hurt for England and will hope for a bigger role in the final group game against Panama, where boss Thomas Tuchel has promised changes.
The Three Lions struggled to break down Ghana in the 0-0 in Boston on Tuesday and Eze thinks going with two No10s against similarly stubborn opposition could be a solution.
He added: “Yeah, I think that’s an option. It’s something that the manager has spoken about before, so it’s definitely something that we’ve got.”
Eze confirmed that club and country team-mate Declan Rice is fine despite picking up a dead leg against Ghana.
Rice, who is on a yellow card, could still be rested in New Jersey for the Panama clash.
Eze added: “He’s Dec. He plays football, and he wants to play football. He wants to play every game, and he’ll do whatever he can to help the team.
“When you’re watching him play, I don’t see him playing as if he’s carrying anything. You see him enjoying himself and having fun. I’m sure he’s OK.”
Eze took on JattvibeSport in the customary three-arrow darts match that the players have played against the media at major tournaments since 2018 – the last time England played Panama.
With no warm-up for either player, our reporter put up a solid enough 42 but Eze blew that score apart with his first dart, hitting the treble 20, before closing out a 70-42 victory.
Eze gave short shrift when asked about the Ghanaian witchdoctor who claims to have lifted a curse he says he put on Harry Kane preventing him scoring against the African nation.
Kane missed a great chance towards the end of the match in Massachusetts and blanked in the stalemate.
An unimpressed Eze replied: “Do you believe that? Yeah, I’m not too interested in that type of conversation.”
