English-Nigerian star Eberechi Eze earns apology from Jamie Carragher after Arsenal hat-trick vs Spurs

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher issued a public apology to Eberechi Eze after the Arsenal forward delivered a remarkable hat-trick in Sunday’s emphatic victory over Tottenham.

The former defender admitted he misjudged the impact Eze could have at the Emirates following his summer move from Crystal Palace.

Eze, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, joined Arsenal in August and has quickly become one of the club’s most influential performers this season.

Carragher previously questioned whether the 27-year-old could significantly elevate Mikel Arteta’s side, suggesting his arrival appeared more like squad reinforcement than a transformative signing.

However, his tone shifted after watching Eze dominate the North London derby with a clinical display that drew widespread praise across English football.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, Carragher said: “I must be honest. In the summer when Arsenal signed him, and I had my Liverpool hat on, and I looked at the signings Arsenal made… they signed Gyokeres. It felt like a lot of them were to strengthen the squad, really.”

Carragher explained that he initially believed Eze would be rotational cover rather than a guaranteed starter, pointing to Arsenal’s attempts to avoid last season’s depth issues.

“When Eze came in, I thought, ‘Okay, maybe it’s not a gamechanger’,” he said.

That perception altered dramatically after Eze delivered one of the standout individual performances of the Premier League campaign, becoming only the third Arsenal player in 15 years to score a derby hat-trick.

His goals arrived at crucial moments, punishing Tottenham’s defensive errors and showcasing his trademark composure in the final third.

Carragher acknowledged the scale of his earlier misjudgment, adding: “So, apologies. I certainly undervalued the importance that signing was, because he looks like he could make the real difference for Arsenal and go on and win the title.”

Eze has now scored four league goals since joining the Gunners, further strengthening Arsenal’s title credentials.