Eberechi Eze: Why things will never be the same again for ‘extremely talented’ Arsenal star – Danny Murphy

I know from experience that there are certain games, if you are the player who makes the difference, the fans will never forget that.

I had been a Liverpool player for more than three years when I scored my first winning goal for them against Manchester United in 2000. I was used to them asking for autographs and being talked down to, but this goal against our biggest rivals suddenly raised everything to a different level.

You are now the player who scored that goal for us, and against them. It was as if people saw me in a different way, and they definitely appreciated me more, because I gave them such happiness in a match that meant so much to them.

It will be the same for Eze now, and the direct impact of his hat-trick is that in the next few games, he will be so full of confidence that he will feel like he can try anything because he can do no wrong.

When he takes to the field next, whether it is against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday or against Chelsea in the Premier League next weekend, he will feel that the fans are behind him 100%, because they adore him now more than ever.

It will be the same when he gets the ball too. You know the fans love you and that carries over to your game. You’re thinking, “Give me the ball, what do I do next?” The feeling is amazing, and he will want to express himself and show the world how good he is.

That’s the hype you get and it applies to any player who scores a hat-trick in a game of this magnitude, but it always means a little more when you’re a fan of the team you’re doing it for – it actually happens.

You feel the warmth from the fans, which is hard to get if you didn’t grow up knowing it yourself.

I’ve been at Old Trafford as a Liverpool fan watching them play there, so I understand what a win over United means to our fans, just as Eze will know what a win over Tottenham means to Arsenal fans.

What he did on Sunday will live with him forever, and fans will know he earned it too.