Ebere Eze can get to the ‘highest level of the game’ with Arsenal says his former manager | OneFootball

Ebere Eze’s former boss Mark Warburton says joining Arsenal can give him the platform to go up yet another level.

Warburton managed Eze for one season at Queens Park Rangers, before he made his move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace.

He enjoyed his best season at QPR under Warburton, scoring 14 goals in the 2019/20 campaign. And Warburton, who also previously managed Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Glasgow Rangers, says Eze’s potential was clear as soon as he stepped through the door.

“He was one of those players, Ebere, who every single day would do something that just caught your attention,” he said.

“It might just be one piece of control where he brought a ball out of the air. It might be a strike on goal after he cuts inside. It might be the way he glides across the pitch. He was just one of those players.

“Over the years, you work with various players who have that ability. Ebere certainly fell into that category.”

Warburton was also assistant manager at West Ham under David Moyes, and recalls a conversation he had with now Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice about a young Eze.

“We played West Ham in a behind-closed-doors game at the London Stadium, and Ebere was outstanding, absolutely outstanding. I remember talking to Declan later at West Ham about how good Ebere was on that day, and here we are, jump forward a couple of years, and he’s joined Dec at Arsenal.

“He’s got the potential now, with this move to Arsenal, he’s on a stage whereby you hope very much he can cement himself in Thomas’ (Tuchel’s) thinking.

“The World Cup next year in the USA is going to be a huge tournament, let’s hope he keeps fit, stays well, and can showcase his ability.

“I’m delighted for him because it’s a huge move, he was a great success at Palace, and now it’s another step up to the level which hopefully cements his place in the England team and moves him on to the very highest levels of the game.”

Eze has had to deal with plenty of setbacks during his career, including being let go by Arsenal, Fulham, Reading and Millwall before finding his way to QPR.

And Warburton says it is Eze’s mental strength and exemplary attitude which have helped him make it to the top.

“He’s just a really solid character, a really good character,” he said. “Not loud, not a screamer, but stands up for what he thinks is right.

“He’s a player who gave himself the best chance to maximise his potential, and there’s no doubt he’s done that.

“There’s many, many people who would have given up on the way. Many people would have just gone to work somewhere and played part-time football, whatever, but Ebere has stuck to it, and I’m just delighted for him, genuinely delighted for him, because I think he’s the type of individual that will grace a stadium like Arsenal, but also his strength of character and quality of character will endear him to the Arsenal fans as well.

“He deserves enormous credit, enormous credit for his level headedness, the strength of character on and off the pitch. I mentioned earlier consistency, consistency of character, he’s just a really genuinely good person.”