Since the joy of his Arsenal homecoming, the mystery wrapped inside the enigma of Eberechi Eze was how to get him to strut his most potent stuff against someone other than Tottenham Hotspur.
Eze’s love for springtime football is no secret. It is the time of year when he blossoms. His talent shines that bit brighter, his confidence flows that bit faster, his expression bursts out of him that bit more expansively.
There was a growing sense of inevitability about Arsenal in this Champions League tie, as they pummelled Bayer Leverkusen’s goal with multiple chances: inswinging corners, long-range fizzers, angled shots, goalmouth scrambles. But with their goalkeeper Janis Blaswich in resilient form it evidently needed something more outrageous to crack the tie open. Eze was the man who took it upon himself to do exactly that.
He was in roaming mode, gliding around on the fringe of the D, when Leandro Trossard drove a pass at him. With a dink of his left foot he flicked the ball up for himself to twirl and in the same movement crack with his right. The shot was fiercely beautiful, like ballet on steroids, drawing gasps from the crowd. As a first Champions League goal for his boyhood club, he took in the moment as if it was almost meant to be — strolling nonchalantly into the acclaim.
UK readers watch here:
Eze with a rocket to fire Arsenal into the lead at the Emirates 🚀🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ze8euGBuDg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 17, 2026
U.S. readers watch here:
Eberechi Eze with an absolute SCORCHER to beat Bayer Leverkusen’s Janis Blaswich 🚀🔥
William Saliba’s reaction to that golazo says EVERYTHING 😳👏 pic.twitter.com/HKEhm37VMR
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2026
This was the Eze with main character energy, the maverick in the mood. Mikel Arteta described it as a “magical moment” and recognised that this was a showcase of the idiosyncratic qualities Arsenal couldn’t resist recruiting last summer.
That said, adaptation to the particular demands and connections of a new team which exists in a high intensity environment has not been a breeze. It has needed time, space, understanding and learning. He spent a fair amount of time on the bench during December and January, but never let his attitude and willingness to improve drop at the training ground.
Eking consistently high calibre performances from Eze has been a work in progress. There have been positional tweaks — sometimes he floats more, sometimes he sits deeper, sometimes he pushes higher and closer to the centre forward.
Now Eze is purring, gaining momentum. Arteta puts it down to a recipe which includes the “chemistry” he has developed over time with his new team-mates, the regularity of playing more and more, and the belief that comes with proving what he is capable of as a difference maker.
“He’s playing every three days now,” said Arteta. “Comparing the minutes that he’s ever played in his career he’s much higher right now than any other season. He has the rhythm. 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, is the reason why he’s here, to create those kinds of moments.”
All in all it makes for a happier Eze. Confidence, elan, invention, enjoyment bubbled up against Leverkusen. He was not too far away from a second wonder goal based on a surging dribble, only to be denied with a last-gasp block. He is owning the stage and looks capable of thriving in the Champions League, which Arsenal are going to need more and more as the competition progresses and there is even more emphasis on magic moments players.
Eberechi Eze underlined his class against Leverkusen (Warren Little/Getty Images)
But just as importantly, he also linked smoothly with his team-mates, and played a full role in the press, plus the responsibility of helping out to regain possession. It is these hard working acts in service to the team which are central to the full picture for Arteta. A luxury player has to be able to get his hands dirty as well.
“Without that, you have no chance to play in this team,” Arteta said. “Because everybody does it, and that’s the reason why we are so consistent in winning matches. He can do it. If he could not do it, I would never demand it. He can do it, he’s willing to do it, and he’s doing it better and better every day.”
That mix between resilience and attacking relish was on show throughout the team that dominated Leverkusen. Arsenal produced their most shots on target in a single game this season. Hot on the heels of Saturday’s Max Dowman euphoria, there has been a shift towards more positive energy in the last couple of matches here.
Declan Rice scored a stunning goal of his own. He pounced on the ball and strode forwards to steer in a precise strike from 20 yards, which curled subtly to kiss the inside of the post on its way.
It’s a funny old thing, Arsenal enjoying themselves. It isn’t clear yet if this should be allowed, or whether it will please or upset people in the wider football community. Such opinions reside outside the Emirates. Inside, within Arsenal’s camp, they are highly motivated by what they are chasing. Higher tempo and forward momentum can only help them.
This period ahead of the international break presented Arsenal with three significant hurdles in three different competitions over eight days. They ticked off a critical Premier League weekend against Everton, then progressed to the quarter finals of the Champions League, and now turn attention to the Carabao Cup final on Sunday against Manchester City.
It is not a bad time to be finding magic moments.
