Eberechi Eze is not just winning on the pitch with Arsenal; the footballer is getting accolades outside of the Emirates Stadium.
This time, the English footballer of Nigerian descent was awarded the PFA Community Champion prize at the London Football Awards held on Thursday, joining the list of Arsenal stars who shone on the night.
The forward, 27, collected the award for his works through the Eze Foundation at the ceremony held at the Exhibition White City in West London.
He beat Jimmy Dunne of Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Championship club Millwall to claim the prize.
An excited Eze described the prize as “special” and said he is grateful to get the recognition.
“Of course, it’s a special time for all of us. We’re all grateful to be in this position. This is what it’s all about.”
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Reflecting on how his upbringing shaped his life, the former Crystal Palace man said his goal is to be like those who inspired him as a child.
“I don’t know if there was anything specific I would have wanted to see. I think it was just the people that you looked up to—the people that inspired you as you grew up,” he said on the sidelines of the event.
“Seeing how they operated, how they did things, and how they gave back to those of us who were on the come-up and trying to achieve just like them. That’s what I’m trying to emulate; that’s the type of person and family we want to be.”
Arsenal signed Eze in the summer in a £60 million ($81 million) deal plus £7.5 million in add-ons as the Gunners battle to end a 22-year wait to win the Premier League.
Since teaming up with the North London club, Eze has gone on to score six Premier League goals, five of them coming against Tottenham Hotspur.
The forward believes his move to Arsenal has helped improve his game.
“Just being involved in a team like this is a jump from Crystal Palace in terms of the types of players and the manager. It’s a different way of operating. I would say it’s more about the collective way of thinking as a team,” he said.
“They are so well-versed; the systems and patterns in place are so deep. It’s cool for me to get involved in that, to learn, and to adapt my game.”
He specifically said his “understanding of the game” has improved since joining Arsenal.
“It’s hard not to improve under a manager like Mikel. He’s so intense and has so many ideas and different ways to help you grow. I’m more conscious of what I’m doing on the pitch,” the England international said.
“You always want to express yourself, but he’s given me many different tools to add to my game, which is powerful.
Eze began his career at the Arsenal academy and won last season’s FA Cup with Crystal Palace before making the switch back to North London.
The Eze Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that young people are given the opportunities to explore their potential, build skills, and step confidently into the world.
“Our mission is to bridge the gap between education and employment, providing young people with the support, connections, and real-world experience they need to thrive in their careers,” the charity organisation founded in 2023 said.
So far, it has delivered over 200 programmes geared towards achieving these goals.
