Kemi Ajumobi 
Eberechi Eze (Called Ebz) is the new kid on the block. His welcome to Arsenal was grand. His unveiling as Arsenal’s new No.10 showed the power of daring to dream and being consistent with the dream regardless of the obstacles. For Eze, it was a 20-year dream that came true.
That walk into Emirates stadium remains memorable for watchers but most especially, Ebz. Walking into the stadium, you could tell he was taking it all in. I reminisced on his journey, how he had a brief time initially with Arsenal but later left to be at Fulham and Millwall, and also had some challenges at Bristol City and Sunderland. Sadly, it wasn’t what Eze hoped for as he didn’t make it at those places but the young man never gave up. All the odds were against him, but his faith never died, he kept believing.
People have been asking and wondering how the alignment with Arteta’s title plans will be. Nevertheless, they remain hopeful and excited about the new.
Watching him stand by his coach and holding his number10 T-shirt was an emotional one for him. He closed his eyes, shook his head and said “Honestly, I don’t really know what I am feeling right now.” He later put pen to paper, said “It’s been written” and signed. It felt so surreal for him. Ebz obviously couldn’t contain his joy.
Ebz is open about his journey and love for Arsenal. Videos of him are online from years ago when he kept hoping to join Arsenal. His response had always been the same when asked of the club he would love to play for. The young man always said Arsenal. Today, reality stares him in the face. His dream has come true. They are no longer wishes, it has become his reality.
“I still haven’t fully processed everything. I know what this means and where we have come from as a family.” He said during an interview with Ian Edward Wright. One of the high points for me watching that interview was seeing him watch and listen to his model, Thierry Henry, when Wright played him a video of Henry telling Eze how they all knew he wanted to play for Arsenal. I love when Henry said to him “It is not a dream anymore, it’s a reality, so make sure you make it count.” Another high point for me was when Henry said to him “When I first arrived at Arsenal, they told me it is a club that has class, it’s a family club and you’ve got to fight no matter what.” Ebz’s deep breath and smile after watching his role model send him a personal message is priceless. I was smiling from ear to ear like he was speaking to all of us…yeah, I said all of us…I’m an Arsenal fan…didn’t know? Welllllllll…now you do.
Okay, back to Ebz. In his quick-fire questions with Arsenal, he referred to his Arsenal move in one word: “perfect” and that wearing the Arsenal top means “everything” to him. His interview on ‘The Pursuit podcast with Kelly Cates,’ was heartfelt. He revealed that it is impossible to be the best at every single time and to win everything. According to him, “My mind set is, even if I am injured, if I am carrying something, whatever it is, I still believe that I’ve got what it takes to be the best. That is what I am aiming for at this level of competition and if you don’t have that, the next person will and chances are that if they’ve got it and you don’t, you lose.” Ebz disclosed.
That’s not all to the latest No.10, he further mentioned that “When I am playing, when I am running with the ball, when I am doing whatever, yes, it is for me and my team to win, but there are people in the crowd watching. This might be their only game, their only opportunity to watch me play football and it is not that I am so special, but I want them to leave knowing that I have shown them something, I have done something and that’s the heart behind the way I think and how I operate. I feel like I have been called to inspire people.” He stated.
My question for you is, what do you feel you have been called to responsibly do? Ebz has found his own, find yours too and know that no matter how long it may seem to tarry, keep your optimistic bar high and hope alive, because just like Ebz, your time will come.