Did God really answer Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick prayer?

Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze claimed God answered his prayer for a hat-trick against Tottenham. Spurs fan Tim Bechervaise feels conflicted - but he’s praying the footballer’s outspoken Christian faith points many to Jesus 

Back in the summer, I made a prediction. Eberechi Eze had turned down Tottenham Hotspur, the team I support, to sign for Arsenal. For Spurs fans, we not only lost out on a superb footballer, we did so to our bitterest rivals. I can recall mumbling to myself that, to rub salt into the wound, he’ll probably score against us this season.

Fast-forward to Sunday and Eze did just that – and emphatically so. He scored three (a hat-trick in footballing parlance) and, during his celebrations, he pointed to the heavens, giving glory to God. Being a Christian and a long-suffering Spurs fan, this left me with very mixed feelings.

After the final whistle, and a 4-1 win for Arsenal, Eze made a quiet remarkable claim during an interview with Sky Sports. “Man, I’m grateful again,” he said. “I prayed for it today…a hat-trick, and God gave it to me. That’s faith, man.”