Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze has reflected on his career battles on the pitch, revealing the player who has posed the greatest challenge to him during competitive play.
Speaking on Adebayo Akinfenwa’s podcast, the England international highlighted former Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne as the most difficult opponent he has ever faced, praising the Belgian’s exceptional football intelligence and problem-solving ability.
Eze, who encountered De Bruyne on multiple occasions during his spell at Crystal Palace, described the midfielder as a uniquely gifted footballer whose decisions and creativity consistently stood out at the highest level.
According to Eze, De Bruyne’s capacity to read situations far ahead of others made him an opponent unlike any he had previously encountered.
“I’m gonna [Kevin] De Bruyne, [was the toughest opponent] you know,” Eze said.
“To play the way he was playing, to do the things that he was doing for that amount of time, yeah, not easy. You can tell that he’s a high-level thinker.
“These are the type of players I’ve looked up to from young, so definitely a special player.
“Probably the player you’re coming up against and you’re like, ‘he’s got solutions to problems I hadn’t even given him yet’. He’s a special guy.”
Eze’s remarks further underline De Bruyne’s long-established reputation as one of the Premier League’s most influential midfielders—renowned for his vision, technique, and creativity.
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