Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has slammed the performance of Eddie Nketiah during the team's woeful FA Cup exit against Nottingham Forest, calling the forward's movement 'very poor'.
Mikel Arteta's men were dumped out in the third round of the cup by their Championship opponents, with the Gunners failing to show any sparkle up front, with Nketiah tasked with leading the line.
But 22-year-old wasn't able to inspire Arsenal and missed a handful of good chances to put them ahead - including a header that went wide from Bukayo Saka's cross.
Wright believes Nketiah needed to be much 'sharper' at the City Ground as he deputised for the rested Alexandre Lacazette, saying better movement might have helped him score the opener.
'I thought his movement was very poor,' the pundit said, speaking to ITV.
'Ally [McCoist, on commentary duty] was talking about it, there were a couple of instances when you thought if it is not quite going for you, you just need to be sharper.'
[On the missed chance] 'He sees the ball all the way here, I'm not sure why he got mixed up with what he's trying to do, is he going chest it, is he going to head it?
'It was one of those days when he needed to take the half-chance because the game was going to be tough for you and as a striker you need to take that half-chance.
'He had one with the header but he got it all mixed up.'
The boyhood Gunners star ended up playing the full 90 minutes, but Arteta was forced to bring on Lacazette on 69 minutes as he looked to get his side in front - although they would eventually be beaten by a late Lewis Grabban strike.
Nketiah wasn't the only player in the firing line from Wright, as he also took aim at left-back Nuno Tavares, who was hooked before half time, with the pundit believing he showed 'disrespect' towards Arteta.
'He started very poorly with this bad backpass, and with this one you look at his reaction,' Wright said. 'He is coming off, he’s throwing his gloves down, I think this is the wrong manager to do this with.
'The disrespect the is showing at the minute is something Mikel Arteta won’t like, he shouldn’t be acting like that with the performance he put in.'
gunner2386
0
should of have played a more experienced squad.
kisilah
0
can someone tell me why we brought loconga to arsenal.
SarcasticGunner
0
Scoring a hattrick few days back doesn't take away the fact that why Nketiah is not a regular start for Arsenal over the years. He was bismall in the 3rd round. There's no point keeping such players in the club. He can call any other club he wants. Just get rid of him.
meyabemopy
0
Arteta is learning on the job,that is why you shake head in disbelief at his line ups and changes. Against Notn Forest, we were a goal down chasing an equaliser with 5mins to go. Arteta made a change and brought in Kolasinac a left full back! Pathetic and scandalous!
When Arteta got Arsenal from rock bottom to 4th on the table, what did you write then???? Yes, we lost the game well before that as Logongo gave away the ball once again that lead to the goal. The players that filled in due to injuries/AFCON/Covid were not great and should take a hard look at themselves in the mirror.
dee_59
0
Nketiah, Cedric suarez and Holding, these are all mediocre players and should be disposed off ASAP.
emondorock
2
Neilah has had too many chance and just hasn't got it, time to go
cesdilmpz
2
Nketiah is absolute trash! No excuses for this fella, lets face reality! We will get no money for this guy, he's a go out on loan til your contract expires. Arsenal can't even give this guy away.
Tazbcnpy
0
Nuno can stay he got potential
Which potential? Nuno and Lakonga out! Mot sharp mentally
mupbceip
2
Eddie was poor no lie, to be honest Arteta played who he had. Lokonga gave away the ball for the goal he just picked up where he left off at liverpool
mupbceip
0
Extremely poor, a simple header he could not redirect towards the goal another chance he squandered. I just feel he is one those players who will be decent at times but who will never get any better. Look at the progression with Saka, Smith Rowe & Martinelli you can see growth with Eddie and he was playing longer.
Cant see*
mupbceip
2
Extremely poor, a simple header he could not redirect towards the goal another chance he squandered. I just feel he is one those players who will be decent at times but who will never get any better. Look at the progression with Saka, Smith Rowe & Martinelli you can see growth with Eddie and he was playing longer.
Voubmpsuy
0
cedric nketiah, kolasinac mari shouldnt even be in arsenal, even tavarez
Nuno can stay he got potential
ropbceil
1
does any arsenal fan hear realize that the team need more that an Odegaard to be creative...we need 2every game...
ropbceil
1
cedric nketiah, kolasinac mari shouldnt even be in arsenal, even tavarez
ropbceil
0
Where in the whole Football World do you pick a contract rebel to start matches while his seniors like Laca.sat on the bench? That is the love story between Arteta ,the rookie Manager and Nketiah.
its always been like that btw arteta laca and nketiah, arteta is just too rookie to realise
veaklmrt
0
Where in the whole Football World do you pick a contract rebel to start matches while his seniors like Laca.sat on the bench? That is the love story between Arteta ,the rookie Manager and Nketiah.
veaklmrt
0
Arteta is learning on the job,that is why you shake head in disbelief at his line ups and changes. Against Notn Forest, we were a goal down chasing an equaliser with 5mins to go. Arteta made a change and brought in Kolasinac a left full back! Pathetic and scandalous!
Lothz679
1
Let them tear up those contract papers, let him leave, Arsenal should jus forgive Auba let him stay, the foirentina man will find it hard to score in the EPL.
Nykiechukwu
1
Open door Nketiah, Holding, kolasinac ,Lokonga ,Mari
leave holding and lokonga, the rest out including cedric
lowdmnptuy
1
Nketiah was given his chance to prove and sadly he was unable to deliver. That game showed his standard and it didn't meet the club's required level. Only thing left now is to let him go. Get Calvert Lewin!
Alfies_jay
0
Open door Nketiah, Holding, kolasinac ,Lokonga ,Mari
Cedric too!!!
Meri
1
Open door Nketiah, Holding, kolasinac ,Lokonga ,Mari
Gunners4ever❤
0
Actually Arsenal Wants To Look Like Real Madrid But Sad To See Them Play Like Leeds United😂😂😂
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Says a fan of a club that plays the worst football in the league these days[Crylaugh]
Fepbcilnoz
0
By the way Holding played his worst ever game too … I believe his passing accuracy was 20% at most!!
Fepbcilnoz
0
Actually Arsenal Wants To Look Like Real Madrid But Sad To See Them Play Like Leeds United😂😂😂
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They were nowhere close to Leeds United. This game reminds me their 3 earlier games performance of the season
bulut
1
Get him out of there
Yoaaikoprz
2
Actually Arsenal Wants To Look Like Real Madrid But Sad To See Them Play Like Leeds United😂😂😂
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United wants to be like Norwich and for there good they are playing like Norwich
Raedksy
1
Arsenal want to be good boys off the pitch it just takes to much focus off football.
_◇_
4
Actually Arsenal Wants To Look Like Real Madrid But Sad To See Them Play Like Leeds United😂😂😂