Eberechi Eze was the most influential player in the North London derby as he scored a hat-trick that left everyone stunned. Eze’s hat-trick was the decisive factor in Arsenal’s 4-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur. Besides, the performance was so outstanding that it made another legend – this time from a different sphere – come out and give a very daring forecast: Eze will be a 100 million pounds player in the next 5 years.
Not a single bit of this praise is frivolous. Eze has been transferred from Crystal Palace to Arsenal at a fee of 67.5 million pounds this summer. At that time, it was regarded as a big gamble by a lot of people. Nevertheless, after scoring a hat-trick in the derby, Scholes claims that if Eze continues to score, his worth can go even higher than that.
Why Some Are Saying “Yes” to Eberechi Eze: Arsenal
A Dream Come True, and a Very Big Price Tag:
To begin with, Eze is not only a new signing — he is a fan of Arsenal all his life and came back to the club that let him go when he was a kid. Besides the add-ons that may go up to 7.5 million, Arsenal paid 60 million pounds in cash. The deal was pretty bold.
First Real Explosive Performance:
The last North London derby was the point of Eze’s mission. Eze’s hat trick against Tottenham was the main story of the day — and it also brought the victory. Before that, some of the critics pointed out that he was not enough of a consistent scorer for Arsenal.
Scholes’ Point of View: Goals Win Games:
Scholes argues that players in a club like Arsenal have to show it in the big games. One of the reasons for Eze’s humility which Scholes liked was – “he seems like a nice guy … there is no arrogance in him, he is just a great footballer.” Paul Scholes made a bold prediction that Eze would be worth 100 million pounds if he kept on scoring.
No Certainty
Eze did great in scoring a hat-trick — his career should not be only based on one of his performances. What really matters is consistency. Scholes even said that until now, scoring had been “the one thing missing” for them.
Moreover, costly transfers come with high expectations. The £67.5 million price tag is connected with the burden of the pressure – every game will be closely watched. If Eze is not playing well, then he will be heavily criticized, and the criticism will intensify.
The Implication for Arsenal’s Season
By winning the derby, Arsenal have given themselves a lead over the contenders in the league. Now, it is up to Eze to convert his confidence into performance consistency.
In case Eze keeps up his level of play, then the development of his individual career can be considered as a metaphor of the club’s ambition: to compete for the title. Besides, Scholes’ loud support not only for Eze but also for the belief that he can do well under pressure, is yet another factor. Eberechi Eze has started well, but has a lot to do to maintain his consistency.
Author’s Insight
Eberechi Eze is the main character in the narrative of second chances and dreaming big: when he was 13 he was dropped by Arsenal’s academy and now he is coming back as their major signing. With his hat-trick, he has made a daring move. The bigger test, however, is still there: can he convert brilliance into consistency?
If he does — i.e. scoring regularly, winning matches — then perhaps Paul Scholes is nearer to the truth than not. Eze might be a £100 million player in the end.
