Ebere Eze don finally live him childhood dream for Champions League. The Arsenal number 10 score him first goal for the competition during di round of 16 win over Bayer Leverkusen. That match end 2-0 for Arsenal side, and Eze na di one wey open di scoring.
Now, Arsenal dey prepare for di return leg against Sporting CP for N5. Di first leg don already finish with 1-0 victory for Arsenal. Eze no play for that first leg, but him dey fully ready for di second one. Him talk say di team sabi wetin dey at stake.
“We all know the position that we’re in, the opportunity that we have and we know what’s at stake,” Eze yarn. “The focus is on the opportunity that we have and taking it with both hands.”
For di midfielder, dis na di kind moment wey every footballer dey dream about. “These are the moments that you want to play in as a footballer,” him continue. “You want to play in the high-stakes games, you want to play in all the competitions, and you want to win as much as you can.”
Eze grow up dey watch Champions League matches, especially di 2006 Arsenal side wey reach final. That team knock out big teams like Real Madrid and Juventus for di journey. Eze believe say dis current Arsenal squad get similar mentality like dat 2006 team.
“The Champions League is special,” Eze talk with passion. “Growing up, watching it on TV and dreaming of playing in this competition, having it as a goal of mine from a young age. It’s a very special thing and something I don’t take lightly.”
Him add say: “To be in the position where we can win the competition and where we’ve got the actual opportunity, for me, that’s the most special thing. I’m grateful to God for it.”
When dem ask am about di 2006 team mentality, Eze explain say: “I think there was a certain level of confidence. Not arrogance, but it was just a belief within that squad. For me, that’s what football’s about. Walking up to a pitch and believing that you’re that guy and you’re part of that team.”
Him believe say dis current Arsenal team get dat same kind belief. “For me, that’s the mentality, and they had that. It’s something that we’ve got as well, which is special to be a part of, and for sure something that dreams are made of.”
Now as dem face Sporting CP for N5, Eze know say di match go tough. But him dey confident say if Arsenal focus on demselves, dem fit reach semi-final again. Last season, Arsenal don already reach Champions League semi-final, and dem wan do back-to-back.
“We’ve seen how they’ve played from the last game, but you don’t know how they can come, they could completely change,” Eze talk about Sporting CP. “It’s hard to speculate on that, but the main focus is how we’re going to play, how we’re going to operate, and allowing that to be the main focus.”
Him conclude say: “Because if that’s the case, then we trust that we have enough to put in the best performance possible and turn the game. That’s our mentality, that’s how we’re focusing on the game, and being very much centred on ourselves.”
Di whole Arsenal squad dey excited for di opportunity wey dem get. Eze talk say him team dey ready to give everything for di match. Di dream of playing for Champions League don come true for Eze, and now him wan help Arsenal reach final four again.
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