Mikel Arteta claimed the wonder goal scored by Eberechi Eze to fire Arsenal on the way to the Champions League quarter-finals is “the reason why he’s here”. Eze hit spectacular 20-yard thunderbolt before Declan Rice added a classy second to seal a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen for a 3-1 aggregate success. “We needed a magical moment from Ebs to score a wonderful goal, a wonderful strike to give us the lead,” said the Gunners boss. “Especially his level of activity with the ball, without the ball, in the spaces that he moves, the purpose that he’s showing every time he’s in and around the box as well, which is the reason why he’s here, to create those kind of moments. “I’m comparing the minutes that he’s ever played in his career.

Source: Irish Examiner March 18, 2026 14:18 UTC