Crystal Palace midfielder, Eberechi Eze, has said it was tough being rejected by Arsenal as a junior.
The 22-year-old has impressed since making a £17million move to Palace from QPR on a five-year deal in August.
However, success has not always come easy to the Londoner, who thought he would make it big with the Gunners when he signed for them before his 16th birthday.
“I got scouted by a few clubs and that’s when I first went to Arsenal,” he said.
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“At a young age, it was hard, especially being released. I and my mum cried, everyone was so upset – that’s all you know at that age.
“But looking back at it now, that’s the start of my journey and I’m grateful to God that’s how it went. If it wasn’t for that, I may not have got the resilience, bravery, to go and be who I want to be elsewhere. It’s shaped me to be who I am today.”