Eddie Nketiah sparked a bit of controversy following a heart-to-heart interview on The Beautiful Game Podcast earlier in the week. The 22-year-old forward discussed a variety of issues, including his international future and why he has been reluctant to sign a contract extension at Arsenal.
Nketiah’s major concern was his lack of playing time at the Emirates and rightly so. Despite the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the young striker has sparingly started games.
However, he was eventually unleashed by Mikel Arteta during Wednesday’s Premier League game against Chelsea and took his chance by scoring twice.
Eddie Nketiah destroys Blues
When a player talks big, the pressure immediately mounts on him to follow up with a big performance and that is exactly what Nketiah did.
After complaining about his lack of game time at Arsenal, he scored twice in a rare start as the Gunners won 4-2 to boost their hopes of finishing in the top four.
Both of his goals also emphasized his innate scoring prowess. The boy is a natural finisher and demonstrated that when he sensed Andreas Christensen could make a mistake in the build-up to his first goal.
His second goal was also a typical poacher’s strike, as he took advantage of a defensive mix-up to prod the ball home. Nketiah played his best game in an Arsenal shirt against Chelsea and his man of the match award was well deserved.
Eddie Nketiah deserves more playing time
Alexander Lacazette has been Arsenal’s main striker since Aubameyang left, but the Frenchman hasn’t been clinical enough upfront.
And with Nketiah’s latest performance against Chelsea, he has staked a claim to be given more playing time in the team.
The 22-year-old has played just 326 minutes of Premier League football this season, having been restricted to a peripheral figure, but he deserves a consistent run now.
“If there is one player that I have been unfair with I think it’s him [Nketiah],” Arteta admitted in his post-match press conference, as quoted by Football London.
“He has given me every right to do something different, and if Eddie doesn’t play more, it’s my fault and because as a manager I missed something or I haven’t had the courage to play him more. Today he showed me more how wrong I was.”
Eddie Nketiah has shown what he can do when given the opportunity and now it’s up to Arteta to give him more minutes. For he has earned it.
Echee27
0
jelosy kill u
and also your entire generation
Zudcekstuz
0
Messi
Zudcekstuz
1
Messi n
Luobdentuy
0
AF will you please change the headline, which one is after "destroying Chelsea",.. he destroyed himself not Chelsea,.because winning Chelsea doesn't add anything to his trophy cabinet
I have just one regret to admit. The humiliation of Chelsea in Europe and in England is now becoming embarrassing.
Ishaqearly
0
Arteta should also think of Elneny too deserves some more playing time when either Partey or Xhaka gets injured or becomes exhausted at some point instead of starting with Lokonga in my opinion🤔
Taalmopyz
3
Elneney and Eddie proved Mikel again wrong how martinelli did😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
Gunners4ever❤
0
I agree,They should have laca coming off the bench.
True. Nketiah did enough to start our next game for me.
Gunners4ever❤
1
AF will you please change the headline, which one is after "destroying Chelsea",.. he destroyed himself not Chelsea,.because winning Chelsea doesn't add anything to his trophy cabinet
I sense an ocean of tears behind this comment😂😂😂😂
Wakcilmry
0
I fully agree 100 percent it's good to have 2 strikers Nketiah needs to be given a contract for the new season; we will definitely need him when we play in Urope again.
yawaimnpry
0
AF will you please change the headline, which one is after "destroying Chelsea",.. he destroyed himself not Chelsea,.because winning Chelsea doesn't add anything to his trophy cabinet
jelosy kill u
Echee27
2
AF will you please change the headline, which one is after "destroying Chelsea",.. he destroyed himself not Chelsea,.because winning Chelsea doesn't add anything to his trophy cabinet
voselmnosu
1
This is chance of showing hi capabilities as i was saying in my comments some few weeks ago that Eddie must be given an opportunity to start the games for Arsenal to prove his worth because we fans have seem him scoring good goals in the Europa league but here Arteta always plays Lacca even it has clearly shown that he can not score any goal for us ,i think Nketiah should start in all ghe remaining games and Arsenal should negotiate him for an extension and buy another clinical striker to compete with him and let Lacca go then this boy will show what he is capable off
Sosst
0
I agree,They should have laca coming off the bench.
Joycikrtu
0
Unfair to Nketiah but highly disrespectful to Eleney
jasondrx77
2
Arteta, fix it extended his contract, guarantee playing time and get another striker, every to team needs at least 2 strikers pushing each other fighting for that starting line up, if form drops put on bench to remind of complacency. just a suggestion...