Eberechi Eze has confirmed he would step up to take a penalty in a World Cup shoot-out for England, even after his heartbreaking miss in the Champions League final for Arsenal against Paris Saint Germain. The midfielder insists he has no hesitation in taking on the responsibility again.
Eze's Determination
When asked directly whether he would take a penalty in a World Cup shoot-out, Eze responded: "If called upon, for sure. Why wouldn't I take it?" He emphasised that football is full of ups and downs and that players must accept everything as it comes, enjoying the journey as much as possible.
Reflecting on the Champions League final, he said: "Playing in a Champions League final is where I want to be, it's what I want to do. We'll go for it again next season and if there is a penalty to take then I'll be there again. All the big players have missed big penalties, have experienced these type of moments."
Learning from the Experience
Eze revealed he has received messages of support from many people following his miss. He expressed gratitude for the experience, stating: "For me it's not something I wish never happened. I'm grateful it happened. I'm going to grow from it, learn from it and move forward."
The Arsenal star also made clear he will not change his penalty-taking style, despite his stuttering run-up contributing to his miss against PSG. He had also missed a penalty in the 2025 Community Shield against Liverpool.
Support and Confidence
Eze noted that he has received plenty of supportive messages from fellow players and claimed the miss will not affect his confidence or belief. He said: "I think I have taken penalties for a long time and it's part of the journey. You have to continue to improve, find new ways to improve."
He added: "I'm not going to stress too much about it because I know I'm in this position for a reason and all the training behind it. Honestly before even speaking to other players, you can see the way big players carry themselves. You step up, you do what you need to do. If you miss, you miss. If you score, you score. It's having the mentality to keep going. That's part of the journey."
