Eddie Nketiah admits his match-winning performance against Sheffield United feels like a “dream come true” after scoring three goals and even captaining the side late on.
Nketiah was given the nod to start on Saturday in Gabriel Jesus’ absence and justified his inclusion with an impressive hat-trick – his first in the Premier League for Arsenal.
There was even time for the 24-year-old to don the captain’s armband in what was a perfect afternoon at Emirates Stadium.
A second Arsenal hat-trick for @EddieNketiah9 📞 pic.twitter.com/GCwirm6BFG
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 28, 2023
“It’s a dream come true,” he told Viaplay Fotball after the game. “A special moment for me being a childhood fan to captain the squad, especially doing it here in front of friends and family.
“B (Saka) was a first time captain as well, we’re here, we came from the Hale End and we know what it means.
“I lost my aunt quite recently, so I wanted to dedicate those goals to her and her family.”
Nketiah had the opportunity score four goals after Arsenal were awarded a late penalty, but handed responsibility to teammate Fabio Vieira who also netted in special circumstances.
“To be fair, I was going to take it (the penalty), I wanted to take it, but Fabio came over and asked to take it,” he added.
“He’s expecting a little one so it was a really good moment for him to get on the scoresheet and dedicate the goal to him.
“I’m a team player. I’ve obviously got my hat-trick and could allow for others to get in on the act – he took it and scored so we’re all happy.”
Cloud 9 or in this case, Cloud 14?
Some hattrick…ooof! Incredible goals!
Three finishes of the highest quality.
So he should be, he was outstanding today …
And before I sign off can we all take a moment to laugh at Chelsea, in particular Brentford’s second goal :-))))))))))))))
😂😂😂😂😂
I can’t believe Maupay didn’t have the confidence to score into an empty net. From what I heard, he hasn’t scored in months.
They don’t learn there do they?
Sign number one zillion and eleventeen of how brilliant the spirit is in this squad, so many strikers would’ve been greedy for a 4th, especially ones in Eddie’s position who constantly need to fight for their place in the team and prove the naysayers wrong. But he gave it to Fabio so he could just for a moment look as pregnant as his partner, lovely stuff
Who the hell is voting down this message?
Spurs lurkers
^^this
It’s interesting how many here gave Eddie a lot of criticism after his cameo v Chelsea last week.
And yet two of his goals today were world class 🤷♂️.
I’d say ignore the doubters Eddie and keep going.
It’s a thing that Eddie is a much better starter than he is a substitute. Although when people criticise his cameo against Chelsea, they forget that he got to a ball that he had no right to get to, nor to redirect it towards the goal, and had that gone the other side of the post, we’d have still been raving about it!
yes, how dare people doubt a player based on his last 30 appearances, they should only care about a single match against a bottom league side! it was the same with raya being better than ramsdale after one match, man when will football fans learn to take distance of things? props to him, he had a great match, but whether he’s great or not is not defined by today
He was bad against Chelsea even worse whhe he can on against Seville but damn didn’t he shut up us with this complwte performance. All the flowers to you young sir.
So happy for the guy. Well deserved particularly after all the criticism he has received over the last few weeks
Something you can’t help but notice when Eddie is interviewed he is a very humble young man. Keep knocking them in like that lad whilst Jesus is injured and the whole stadium will be singing your name 🙂
I really like his goal celebrations. Just calmly jogs to the corner and a humble acknowledgement to the crowd.
MA’s tactics are more often than not structured to the strengths of Ødegaard ans to some extent his attacking wingers.
With Ødegaard needing a rest and Jesus out, the team played to Nketiah’s strength and wow did the boy deliver.
Haaland who??
No worries. He will score 4 goals next week vs Newcastle.
Still have nightmares of going 4-0 up at St. James’ Park….
Go Eddie Go Eddie Go
Go Eddie Go Eddie Go
Go Eddie Go Eddie Go
Go Eddie Go Eddie Go
Our very own Haaland. With enough chances created, he will definitely score a lot of goals.
For the 3rd he barely looked at the goal. he got the goal, made space and walloped it beautifully. The man knows where the goal is, the guys behind just need to make chances and let him finish.
Onwards and upwards COYG!
That’s so true actually. He hasn’t scored much this season, but how many chances has he had? I do thunk a striker is partly responsible for the amount of chances created for him, but it’s not like our midfield has been ticking and creating a ton with him off the field this season either, so maybe he should be at least partly forgiven for that dry spell
All strikers are as good as the chances they get, and Eddie hasn’t received enough chances to regard him as a failure, just the team plays different and not to his strength. I get people want Eddie to be involved in play building like GJ (which he tries in these days) but that to me feels like we always lack a focal point up top. The opposition defenders have no one to keep them busy and worrying about balls in behind, when Eddie is there he runs those channels and most times those behind negate those runs. Anyway its a… Read more »
Most focus will go to his sizzler that sealed the hat trick but for me it was the first one that showed his real talent. That decisive pass from Rice was a wee bit hot and slightly behind his run. The boy calmly cancelled his marker by altering the ball’s trajectory and velocity with a cheeky flick then followed up with a strike just before the keeper could close in. It was a brilliant application of his mad skills. Many have questioned his skillset lately despite him displaying them everywhere in the field every game he plays. Nketiah is made… Read more »
He went on a tear for us last season too when Jesus went out with injury, but he couldn’t seem to maintain the goal scoring once the matches started to grind. If he can gain that consistency to stay at his top form, he’ll definitely be a top striker in the World.
Andrew in today’s blog badly underestimates that goal. In fairness, he was at the game (I think at the far end of the stadium for this) and had not seen a replay, even at live speed. So, he thinks there is poor marking. It’s actually, I think, excellent defending (by Trusty, by the way). He is in perfect position to prevent Eddie from getting the ball past him and goalside. Except that Lionel Nketiah has a magic idea, a magic first touch, and therefore an unmagic but still decent shot to score. Gabriel Jesus did a Cruyff turn against Sevilla.… Read more »
Different goal, but shades of Bergkamp against Newcastle all those years ago. Excellent touch to buy all the time to place his shot – that is a difficult skill
Eddie needs to deliver in bigger games to shut down the doubters (myself included tbf)
Hale end. What a talent pool of good humans