Mikel Arteta believes there is “more to come” from Eddie Nketiah after his match-winning performance against Sheffield United on Saturday.
Nketiah scored three goals in the Gunners’ 5-0 win at Emirates Stadium, meaning he is now the side’s top scorer across all competitions this season.
Arteta has made no secret of his admiration for the striker and believes he deserves his moment to shine with Gabriel Jesus out injured.
“For me, he (Nketiah) is top level,” he told reporters after the game.
“He’s started nine out of the ten Premier League games this season which shows you how much I trust him, how much we trust him.
“I’m really happy for him. For an academy player to experience a hat-trick like that, he needs to enjoy the moment, he fully deserves it and hopefully there are many more to come.”
When asked about whether Nketiah could reach the same level of Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners boss was quick to dismiss that line of thinking.
“I don’t like comparing them,” he added. “They are very different players and Eddie brings different qualities to the team.
“He’s got an eye for goal. Look at the stats from his last ten years at the club and they are remarkable.
“He needs minutes, opportunities and service and if he gets that, Eddie is going to score goals – that’s for sure.”
He just needs to stop dropping too deep just to have touches. Stay up and finish like we know you can. CoYG!
He’s the best finisher at the club and top 5 in the league…. doesn’t have to prove too much anymore…just needs more minutes…
I was right before the game, Eddie linked our attack to their defense… Picking the ball out the net. What a game from Eddie. I’ve eaten my hat and several slices of crow pie. Eddie was perfect with his chance to impress. ESR and kiwior with nice games too. Karn arsenal!
😉
I like to see people eat their slices of pie.
If he is dropping deep to help facilitate link up play, it’s because that’s what the manager wants him to do, which is why he keeps playing him.
Eddie is absolutley a different (better) player when he starts. Probably not unique in that. Great day for the kid.
Very true… and not ideal for someone who is a backup when everyone’s healthy. In any case, he was great today and we need more of the same against Newcastle!!
To be fair to him he did score v. Fulham this year after coming off the bench, which may have been the first time he’s done that for us? So perhaps a sign of improvement on that front…
His second game in the first team he scored a brace off the bench after being a late substitute in an EFL Cup game. Remember the “Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!” chants that night?
Sir I beg your pardon, that was the EFL cup, and it was eons ago
Well done Eddie! A new addition to the Hattrick wall! Coyg
We’re all delighted for Eddie after a lack lustre sub appearance against Sevilla and not scoring for so long.
Be great if he gave Ramsdale the amount of opportunities he gives Eddie.
Take a day off man. Your constant negativity is dull at this point.
I think we have to calm down and remember our opponents are bottom of the league. We got a great result with some amazing goals from Nketia. But he needs to be more consistent with his form and scoring. I don’t expect him to score 3 more against Newcastle but he needs to get on the score sheet on a regular basis. Arteta got his team rotation and subs spot on today. Glad Odegard finally gets to rest. Hopefully Saka, Ben White, Rice, and Saliba sit on the bench against West Ham and keep them fresh and ready for Newcastle.
While you’re correct regarding the quality of the opponent, I think the pure quality of the three goals Eddie scored merit the adulation he has received from some. The first goal was a lovely bit of skill and then each goal was better than the previous.
Even a broken clock can be right twice a day
So broken clocks have a much better track record than you? Good to know.
Yes, his goals were amazing. Hopefully this will improve his confidence to get more goals on a regular basis.
Eddie’s random goal scoring does not spare big teams.
What are the actual stats that Artera is referencing?
Google is your friend
On MOTD they showed minutes per goal, appearances for goal is poor 1/4 as he has had a lot of few minutes subs
He’s taken a battering on here in recent weeks so let’s give him his due, OUR academy player who’s made it through every age group, played at every level club and international wise, Englands U21 record scorer yet some still insist he isn’t good enough for us, that we should of kept Balagon and let Eddie go at the end of last season, very happy one of our own got his 1st hatrick today
This shows Eddie’s level. He is probably very good against championship calibre teams.
It’s the fickleness of some on here that is fascinating. Could be nketia, Mustafi, Willian etc, have a good game and the previous 28 games are instantly forgotten 🤪
Kudos for the good game. Delighted with a resounding win, 3 points, even if it wasn’t a great performance
You show the level of some of our fanbase to bitch incessantly.
I once said in this forum that I rate Bellingham so much I would sell Saka to buy him. It was only to say to which extent Bellingham is good. Not that I didn’t have unlimited love for Bukayo. Those as good at football knowledge and literature as myself understood. One fan who knows nada in these two fields called me a very bad name.
Did they call you John Terry?
It wasn’t that bad.
Hehehe…
“He needs minutes, opportunities and service and if he gets that, Eddie is going to score goals – that’s for sure.” Arteta
That is all I have been saying… Eddie is a good striker he needs better service. Even the best of strikers (Haaland) are ineffective without service.
Always had a lot of time for Eddie, since that Norwich game when he made his first team debut, he’s a great player to have in the squad, he maybe doesn’t do as much around the pitch as Jesus but he’s a natural goal scorer, and he has such a good attitude
We have a young academy player who set the bar high as a youngster, did everything as far as scoring that could have been expected. I think he owns the England youth top scoring records. He plays on one of the top professional teams in the world where he competes every day against the best in the world. His manager is known to be exacting, demanding and both ruthless & understanding (only if earned) when giving play time. Whenever this young forward is given consistent playing time he either meets or exceeds league standards for scoring with periodic streaks of… Read more »
“Minutes, opportunities and service.”
You have to love Mikel for looking after talent and keeping their heads on the ground.
That third goal. For some reason I thought is Oshimen and other hard ball strikers. And then I realised that Eddie is still developing and if his confidence level stays up, we will enjoy plenty more rocket finishes like the second and third.
And then I wondered the pattern….
Emile
Reiss
Martin
Saka
None of them had a particularly clean strike accurately on target.
But they all leveled up.
Testament to the team behind the team 💪