Much of the talk in pre-season so far has focused on Emile Smith Rowe, with the youngster seizing his opportunity in the limelight for the first-team.
Smith Rowe certainly deserves much praise for his performances, but it shouldn’t go unnoticed that another prospect who already has some first-team experience has also done rather well.
Eddie Nketiah scored against Boreham Wood and also managed to find the net against Paris Saint-Germain, with his overall display as a substitute in the latter game of a particularly high standard.
Although Nketiah prefers to play up front, he is also capable of thriving out on the left wing, where he often played as a schoolboy after joining Arsenal from Chelsea’s academy.
Against PSG Nketiah made the most of his considerable speed as he frequently tormented the opposing defenders and got into dangerous attacking areas with regularity.
Possessing excellent technique and, as has been well documented, a clinical edge in front of goal, Nketiah is a very exciting prospect and he will be seeking to build upon the first-team experience that he gained last season.
The brace against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup made the wider football world stand up and take notice of Nketiah, but much hard work is still required if he is to fully make the breakthrough.
It will be intriguing to see how Nketiah is used this season and whether he gets more starts in the cup competitions as opposed to substitute appearances. Stronger physically than he was last campaign, the forward is constantly seeking to improve and deserves the chance to develop further.
Having forced his way ahead of players such as Chuba Akpom and Stephy Mavididi, who are both older than him, Nketiah has already made some significant strides in his quest to succeed. Now the next step is for him to become increasingly involved with the senior squad and it is hoped that the new campaign will be another successful one for the Lewisham-born youngster.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Definitely stronger and quicker so looking even better than last year.
Onwards and upwards we hope.
Good assist from “Rice” Nelson
Rice is nice
He looked really good on the left today. Really hope he gets good game time this season
people were so quick to brush off the scoreline today saying we played the PSG reserves . But here are facts and reasons to be optimistic 1) a wenger team would never win this same PSG “reserves ” 5-1 2) it appeared Arsenal players kept same intensity into the 93rd minute, which previous years seems unlikely. 3) we started the goal galore when our senior players were subbed off we had this line up GK MARTINez RB Bellerin CB Chambers CB Holding LB Kolasinac (CRAP) DM Guendouzi / Willock CM Ramsey (CRAP) AM Emile Smith-RoweNALDO RW Nelson LW Nketiah St… Read more »
Some rather sweeping conclusions there, Ernie.
I can’t envision a Wenger youngster/B side doing that to a team in the last 30 min of a game. His 1st squad could do it but not with similar players that were brought on in the second half. I love Wenger, just didn’t want him managing Arsenal anymore.
How I wish we could say good/positive things about the current manager without dragging Wenger into it.
Looked great cutting in from the left for England in the Toulon. Definitely an excitingly option out wide.
Hope he gets plenty of chances this season in the cups.
The last successful English born striker we had also grew up in Lewisham.
This is obviously an omen, don’t debate me.
Who was that ? Jack Rodney? ??
Big up the Sham
Thought Franny Jeffers was a Scouser 😉
Really hope he gets decent minutes this year.
Really excited about Eddie.
Hope we get to see him start a few more games this season. Doesn’t seem phased and is a great finisher. Seems to be an intelligent player with good movement.
Let’s hope we can give him the game time and fill him with confidence.
A better third choice striker than Yaya Sanogo.
Show some respect to the great one
Not sure why, but of all the young players at the club I want Eddie to be the one who makes it. He just feels so much like a man with a part to play in the history of this club. Come on Eddie, prove me right.
The next Wright?
So hard to choose between Nektiah and Nelson. BOTH have strong qualities. Nketiah has that striker instinct and he’s so physical. Nelson OTOH is somewhat flying under the radar bc he did not grab the headline with a goal against a youth PSG side but he has over both games shown great utility as a natural winger giving us service and pace on the right. Indeed the last two goals (Nketiah included) were all instigated and provided in assist by Nelson. I feel he is the slightly more useful player to our cause next season taking nothing away from Nketiah.… Read more »
Possibly our answer on the left wing