Mikel Arteta admits that Arsenal’s decision to keep Eddie Nketiah was informed by short-term needs but he made clear the player’s qualities will also be useful in the coming months.
The England under-21 international was recalled from his season-long loan at Leeds United because he wasn’t getting enough game time and had been expected to spend the second half of the campaign gaining experience with another Championship club.
The likes of Bristol City, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United were all eager to sign him but then Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got red-carded at Crystal Palace and we reassessed the situation.
Nketiah was thrust into action in the closing stages of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield United, replacing Alex Lacazette who toiled hard but again failed to hit the net.
Explaining the thinking behind keeping Nketiah, Arteta said: “The circumstances changed as well with our team with the injuries with suspensions.
“We are very short of numbers at the moment and we’ve got a player that has a lot of quality and can can help us.”
Arteta is no stranger to Nketiah. He worked with the striker while undertaking his coaching badges, a process that started while the Spaniard was still a player at the Emirates. It hasn’t taken long for the Academy graduate to make an impression.
“I was very impressed with him,” said Arteta. “Everything I’ve seen in training I really liked and I think he’s grown a lot in terms of his loan and the environment is was working in.
“That’s what the plan was. He was he was ready to make an impact we needed that energy. I think the team was starting to feel a bit lacking that and I made a decision to play him.”
Arteta not wonky on Nket.
Will be interesting to see how much he plays, especially when Auba is back, plus Laca, Martinelli and Pepe available.
Hard to see him playing a lot.
Maybe not but how juicy would a Martinelli – Nketiah – Nelson line up be for a few prem games when players need resting for our Europa Cup final?
Top 3 bellon d’or.
Bellend or?
Auba has two more games out, no?
Nketiah looks like a good player but judging from his latest performance he needs to calm down a little bit – he looks too eager to make an impact and therefore lacks composure. That said, given Lacazette’s performance these days I wouldnt mind seeing more of Nketiah…
He was decent in my Master League. PES 2020 makes a nice escape from reality where Arsenal are concerned
Eddie eddie eddie !!!
Looks like he’s grown a bit since his debut, looks more like he could physically compete in the league now.
Still looks like Marlo Stanfield.
This is off point, but I think Arteta is our own Sir Ferguson. I believe this guy has 13 or more league titles in him.
He’s a good player. One for the future and all. But honestly, he couldn’t get into the Leeds first 11. Hard to see him get a lot of playing time the remaining of this campaign. Better send him out on Loan.