Super Eagles Defender Reveals Reason Arsenal Released Eze In 2011

Super Eagles Defender Reveals Reason Arsenal Released Eze In 2011

Sampson Adedeji

Former Chelsea and Super Eagles centre-back Kenneth Omeruo has shed light on why Eberechi Eze was released by Arsenal in 2011, explaining the harsh realities of European football academies, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Eze, now an England international and star at Crystal Palace, spent five years in Arsenal’s youth system before being let go at the age of 13.

According to Omeruo, the decision was not a reflection of a lack of talent, but rather the intense competition and strict evaluation process in elite academies.

Speaking on Arise News, Omeruo said: "In Europe, every club has the U10s and U11s, and they graduate. Every year, there’s screening; if you don’t get to the next level, they take you out.”

He continued: “For example, you know the story of Ebere [Eze], now playing for Arsenal. When he was in Arsenal, he couldn’t make it to the next level. It doesn’t mean that he wasn’t good enough or that he would not get to that level, which he did at some point.”

Omeruo stressed that Eze’s release was simply a result of strong competition within the academy setup: “There were other players who were better than him then, so if you can’t get to the next level, you can go to another academy.”

After departing Arsenal, Eze continued his development at Fulham, Reading, and Queens Park Rangers, where he rose to prominence before sealing a move to Crystal Palace.

His impressive growth later prompted Arsenal to re-sign him last summer.

Eze has since become one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking talents and a key figure in the England national team proof, Omeruo says, that early setbacks do not define a player’s future.