Eberechi Eze has insisted he would have no hesitation in taking another penalty for England at the World Cup despite his miss in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last month.
The Arsenal midfielder saw his effort saved during the shootout in Budapest as PSG edged past the Gunners, but the setback has done little to dent his confidence.
Speaking from England’s World Cup training camp, Eze said the experience has only strengthened his mentality ahead of the tournament.
The 27-year-old believes missing important penalties is part of football and pointed to several England stars who have successfully bounced back from similar disappointments.
“All the big players have missed big penalties and experienced these types of moments,” Eze said. “I’ve had messages from everyone to speak on those moments.”
The Arsenal midfielder admitted the defeat was painful but revealed he is choosing to view it as a learning experience rather than a setback.
“For me it’s not something I wish never happened,” he added. “I’m going to grow from it, learn from it and move forward.”
Eze also referenced the examples set by England team-mates Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, who both missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final shootout defeat to Italy before re-establishing themselves as key figures for club and country.
“Before even speaking to them, you can see the way big players carry themselves,” Eze explained.
“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.”
The Arsenal star came under scrutiny after using a stuttering run-up for his penalty against PSG, but he has no plans to make significant changes to his approach.
Eze stressed that penalties have been an important part of his game for many years and believes confidence is crucial when stepping up under pressure.
“I have taken penalties for a long time and it’s part of the journey,” he said. “You have to continue to improve and find new ways to improve.”
After helping Arsenal win the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final, Eze is now focused on making an impact for England on the biggest stage.
The midfielder made it clear that if Thomas Tuchel needs volunteers during a knockout-stage shootout, he will not be hiding.
Asked whether he would take another penalty for England if required, Eze delivered a straightforward response.
“If called upon, for sure,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I take it?”
Those comments will be welcomed by England supporters, with Eze showing the resilience and self-belief needed to handle the pressure that often comes with major international tournaments.
Despite the disappointment of Budapest, the Arsenal midfielder appears determined to use the experience as motivation rather than allow it to define him.