Eddie Nketiah is happy at Arsenal despite him having to play second fiddle to new signing Gabriel Jesus so far this season.
Arsenal really needed a new striker over the summer with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both gone.
The Gunners pounced for the big striker signing they needed, landing Gabriel Jesus in a big move from Manchester City.
The Brazilian has been outstanding so far this season, racking up five goals and three assists in eight Premier League games.
Gabriel Jesus is Arsenal’s clear first-choice striker, and that means a bit-part role for Eddie Nketiah.
Eddie Nketiah is happy at Arsenal
Nketiah was faced with a big decision in the second half of last season.
Out of contract in the summer, Nketiah was expected to walk away and try his luck elsewhere.
Instead, Nketiah landed a run in the team, scored a few goals and committed his future to Arsenal with a new deal.
Sadly for the 23-year-old, he is now stuck behind Gabriel Jesus and hasn’t started a single Premier League game this season.
With just 98 minutes of Premier League action this term, Nketiah is having to rely on the Europa League for starts.
A start will likely come against Bodo/Glimt tonight and Nketiah – once hailed as ‘exceptional’ by boss Mikel Arteta – will be hoping to take his chance.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of tonight’s game, Nketiah played down any kind of rivalry between him and Gabriel Jesus in the Arsenal attack.
Nketiah believes they can play together and is trying to prove that to Arteta, maintaining that he is ‘so happy’ at Arsenal
“It’s not me versus him. It’s for the team,” Nketiah said. “We’ve shown we can play together. As a player, everyone wants to play, My aim is to do that and be starting. I respect the coach’s decisions and I need to keep working hard and it’s a long season. There will be plenty of opportunities to play and the team are doing well. I’m so happy. “
“When you play for a big club like Arsenal, there will be competition and I’m not shy of that. I’m happy to be here and the team’s doing well. I need to keep pushing hard that I deserve more minutes,” he added.
Nketiah is hardly going to kick up a fuss about not playing, especially when Gabriel Jesus is in such great form, but his wait for a Premier League start is likely to go on for a while yet – and he will have to keep that patience up.
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