Eddie Nketiah says that he’s grown close to Ian Wright, and that the former Gunner has become something of a mentor for him.
The 20 year old is spending the season on loan at Leeds United, and has got his career at Elland Road off to a flying start, scoring three goals in his first four appearances.
It’s a showcase of the potential he has, and helps understand why Unai Emery was keen to keep him around, but in the end Arsenal decided the best thing for his development was a loan spell.
Speaking to the BBC, Eddie revealed that Wright – the previous holder of the club’s goalscoring record before Thierry Henry – is helping him in the nascent stages of his professional career.
“Ian’s a massive help and nice to have around,” he said.
“I did some promotion shoots with him and we got really close. He’s taken a real liking to me and it’s a dream come true because as a kid I’ve always looked up to him and watched his clips.
“For him to be taking such an active role in supporting and coming to watch the games is great because he gives me lots of advice, like a mentor.
“I just try to learn everything I can from him because he had such a great career. He’s a really nice guy and easy person to talk to.
“He makes life easier for me.”
There are few better out there, and when it comes to goalscoring, it’s fair to say Wrighty knows a thing or two.
Fingers crossed Nketiah can continue his development with Leeds, and come back to Arsenal next season to push for a first team place.
Oh just imagine.
Could there be a better arsenal story than this if it pans out ?
Sign up Wrighty!
Young player mentor or summit. I dunno. Ambassador of Arsenal. Emirates Custodian. Young Person Architect.
Full time national treasure
I listen to those BBC Monday night podcasts. Wrighty is just so classy. He can talk about his achievements and successes without sounding cocky and arrogant. Compare that to self-serving Chris Sutton who is the epitome of arrogance and insecurity.
Love you Wrighty!! And great to hear you’re helping Eddie.
He kinda is already. For the love of the Arse. Legend.
Young Henry used to say Wright was his role model and that his studied how Wright used to score goals. We know what Henry did with that inspiration. Young players nowadays pretend they owe everything to themselves. Wenger hasn’t been good in letting the real legends around the club. Gerard has been a signifiant person at Liverpool. We know who are the managers at Chelsea and Man U.
This sounds all-Wright to me.
Love ittt!
Off topic : would be great to have comments on the iOS app!
Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Viva La Raza!
Imagine Eddie beating Henry’s record! I’d fucking love it. What a lucky lad to have Wrighty around! Good luck to the boy
He is a great boy!
I see a great striker in the making
I’m surprised Wrighty doesn’t work in some capacity for the club. If you see his insta account he is absolutely adored by young people even non-arsenal supporters, especially under-privileged young men from inner cities and he does it out of love as well. He’s got such an infectious personality and his love of Arsenal is unwaning.
Add to that fact he’s club icon. He’s a youth mentor in the making.
I agree with you, but…..
In a way, he is already playing an important role, and I do wonder if he was employed by the club whether that would take some of his qualities and ability to speak openly away from him.
Agreed.
What he currently does is 100% organic and means so much more
I presume he can play against us in EFL/FA cup?
You couldn’t ask for a better father figure than Wrighty. You couldn’t ask for a better striker to learn from.
Now that the thrill and wonder of Henry has subsided, his achievements can be viewed as part of the history of Arsenal and not just the recent past. Ian Wright has regained his place, for me, as the greatest player to ever play for Arsenal.
No disrespect intended to Henry, Dennis or Adams, but fuck, it’s Wrighty. Stories like this just confirm my feelings. The man bleeds Arsenal and I love him for it.
I’d like to magine in an alternate reality Wrighty joined The Arsenal at a younger age and his record remained unbroken. I love Henry though, seeing him on the TV was what really made me pay any attention to football when I was a young lad.
Speaking of Wright and Leeds, anyone remember that exquisite goal at Elland Road where Wrighty chipped John Lukic. We won 3-0 that day.
He has a great YouTube channel! Check it out.
How could you not love Wrighty, he’s a legend and a fanboy.
They are obviously striking up a great relationship which has a huge potential to benefit this great club in the future.
Ian Wright is the reason I started supporting Arsenal, I was an Ian Wright fan before I became a Gooner
Ian Wright He put the one into ‘One nil to the Arsenal’
Statue for Wrighty, tue AFC legend…
NOW!!
I’m surprised and disappointed that no mention has been made on Arseblog that today it is 100 years since the opening game of the 1919/20 season. Our first game as a promoted club and we’ve stayed in the top division ever since. A record no other club comes even remotely close to!
Wrighty used to live down the road from my mum out in the Kent countryside. Lovely bloke but totally rubbish at three point turns in country lanes
If we could get a 25-goal striker from the championship next summer on a free transfer, that’d be great business, wouldn’t it?
Let’s see how this season plays out. It could payoff tremendously in terms of the kid’s and the squad’s development. It’s all about playing our way into the CL this season and then being _ready_ for CL play next season.
+Nketiah +Saliba +???