Jermain Defoe says Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has become a ‘street footballer’ that ‘excites me’ after he was released by Arsenal as a teenager.
The former Premier League striker spoke about the ‘disappointment’ Eberechi Eze would have had when Arsenal let him go at just 13, which was followed up by further heartache at Fulham and Reading.
That’s when the 24-year-old was handed a scholarship at Championship side Millwall, before he made a name for himself across London at Queens Park Rangers.
Arsenal are London’s biggest club, and at the time Eze was in north London between 2006-11, there would have been some stellar names still at the Emirates, from Cesc Fabregas to the club’s legendary manager, Arsene Wenger.
Therefore, being told that you aren’t good enough for the future of that club would have been a bitter pill to swallow for Eze.
But, as former Spurs striker Defore explained, it made him hungry and now he has become a player you would ‘pay your money to go and watch’, as he told Generation XG on Premier League Productions (10/04/23 at 5:40 pm).
“It’s quite interesting listening to him (Eze),” said Defoe. “I always find that the players who are released, seem to be the ones who work the hardest.
“It’s almost like, when they have had that disappointment, it hurts. They are the ones who come into training every day, the way they go about their business, work hard, train well, want to improve and do the extras.
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“He is someone who has always excited me. He is a street footballer. A lot of personality. Someone you want to pay your money to go and watch. He scores fantastic goals. He goes past people and he’s a clever boy.
“You can tell, the feeling he had about being released, from Arsenal and Fulham and the fact of where he wants to be. He is enjoying it every day and every moment.”
EZE AN ENTERTAINER
Life under an Arsenal legend in Patrick Vieira was supposed to bring the best out of Eze and take his game to the next level.
But it didn’t happen, Vieira was booted out, with Roy Hodgson returned to the dugout, waving his magic wand and getting two wins out of two from Palace after they went 13 without a win.
Eze has been at the heart of that magic, including scoring a stunning team goal as Palace smashed relegation rivals Leeds United 5-1 at Elland Road on Sunday.
In other news, Brighton star lauds ‘magicial’ manager amid Tottenham links
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