Eberechi Eze says he is “feeling good” and “ready” after his calf strain, with the Arsenal midfielder insisting there is still “loads of confidence” and “loads of belief” inside the squad ahead of Sporting CP.
Eberechi Eze has insisted Arsenal remain confident and fully focused on the opportunity in front of them, with the midfielder returning from injury in time for a crucial week that begins with Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP. Speaking after training on Tuesday, Eze said he is “feeling good now, feeling ready” after coming back from what he described as a “little calf strain”, giving Arsenal a timely boost ahead of the game at the Emirates Stadium.
Eze’s main message, though, was about the mood inside the dressing room after the defeat to Bournemouth and the external scrutiny that followed it. He said there is still “loads of confidence, loads of belief in the group, in our team”, adding that the focus is on “the opportunity that we have and taking it with both hands”. That line was consistent throughout his media appearance, with Eze repeatedly returning to the scale of the moment rather than the pressure attached to it.
He also offered a clear insight into how Mikel Arteta has addressed the squad since Saturday. Eze said “the boss speaks well and he’s passionate” and added that “you can see the fire that he has in his eyes and his mind and that’s been pushed around the whole training ground”. According to the midfielder, the message inside Arsenal has been simple. “We know the opportunity that we have. We know what’s at stake. We know what’s possible and we’ve got an opportunity to make history as a club. ”
That theme of blocking out external reaction also came through strongly. Eze said Arsenal’s response has been to focus on “us here and what we’re doing”, adding: “We believe massively. We have so much confidence in what we’re doing.” Asked directly about criticism from outside the club, he was even more direct, saying part of his mentality is “not caring about what you guys talk about” and simply continuing to do his job. He added that he sees the same mentality in teammates, describing a group now focused on “letting go” of the outside noise and doing “what we do best”.
There was also a personal edge to Eze’s remarks. He acknowledged that adapting to Arsenal has not been straightforward, saying the tactical demands were the biggest change after arriving from Crystal Palace. “For me, it was the tactical stuff,” he said, explaining that Arsenal’s level of detail and the different demands of the role meant the adjustment “was a bit difficult at times”. Even so, he described that process as part of the journey and said he is now enjoying it.
For Arsenal, the most immediate significance is that Eze appears fit again and sounds fully engaged with what lies ahead. He described this stage of the season as “a beautiful time” and said these are “the moments that you want to play in as a footballer”. Arsenal still have to turn that confidence into a result against Sporting, but Eze’s press conference made the internal mood clear enough. The setback at the weekend has not altered the belief inside the squad, and the midfielder’s view is that the opportunity remains there to be taken.