Eberechi Eze has brushed aside criticism of Arsenal's style of play as the Gunners prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest this Saturday.

Speaking to Sky Sports days after Arsenal clinched their first Premier League title in more than two decades, Eze made clear that results — not aesthetics — are what define a winning side.

"You go through ups and downs and loads of noise in the media," Eze said. "But, at the end, all that matters is who won. And it doesn't matter how you won, it doesn't matter what you did to win. Style of play is very subjective. There are so many different opinions about it but ultimately, when you are winning games, that's all that matters."

A prophecy revisited

The comments carry extra weight given Eze's history of making bold declarations and following through on them. In May 2025, standing next to the Premier League trophy at his annual Eze Foundation Invitational in south London, he told Sky Sports: "Everything there is for me to win, I want to win, and I'll do anything I possibly can to win the Premier League." One year later, he had done exactly that.

A post he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in 2015 — "I swear imma make It and when I do, they're gonna show this tweet lol" — has since become a symbol of his determined journey, one that included joining Arsenal as a youngster, being released by the club, and then returning in a £60 million move.

Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park, the home of Eze's former club Crystal Palace, ending 22 years without a league title. The symmetry was not lost on anyone.

Confidence heading to Budapest

Arsenal now face a Paris Saint-Germain side, managed by Luis Enrique, who are chasing back-to-back Champions League titles after dismantling Inter Milan 5-0 in last season's final to complete a treble. Leaked footage of manager Mikel Arteta declaring Arsenal will be the "champions of Europe" has only added to the sense of belief surrounding the squad.

For Eze, the occasion is one he has dreamed of since childhood. He was just 7 years old when Arsenal lost their last Champions League final in 2006.

"The Champions League final is what dreams are made of," Eze said. "These are things that you've spoken about and wanted as a kid. To be able actually to be there is a special thing."

He is in no doubt about Arsenal's mindset heading into the match. "Confident? Yeah for sure. I feel like we've achieved something that means so much to us and the joy, the confidence, the power that comes with that is special. So I'm sure we'll be bringing that on the day as well."

And with a calm certainty that has become his trademark, Eze summed up what Saturday could mean: "We are just another group of people that have the opportunity to win the Champions League and I pray that we take it. When we do, it will be a special moment for sure."