Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has reflected on Chelsea’s decision to let both him and Declan Rice leave the club.
Eddie Nketiah has admitted that Chelsea letting him go as a youngster came as a real shock.
Nketiah has been speaking to the London Evening Standard having joined up with the England squad this week.
A former England under-21 star, Nketiah has landed his first senior call-up and could be in line for a maiden cap.
Nketiah has come a long way since being released by Chelsea way back in 2015.
The 24-year-old spent five years in the Chelsea setup before being axed at the age of 14.
Arsenal swooped in to sign Nketiah and he has now risen all the way up to become a first-team regular for the Gunners, attracting England’s interest.
Eddie Nketiah comments on Chelsea exit
Nketiah has now admitted that being let go by the Blues ultimately made him all the more determined to shine elsewhere.
The striker admitted that being told he was going to be released came as a real shock because he thought he was doing well for Chelsea at the time.
Nketiah came up at Chelsea alongside Declan Rice with both players not only going to shine elsewhere but also join forces with their bitter rivals Arsenal.
Now England international teammates too, Nketiah believes that their shared experience at Chelsea has ultimately given them resilience that other players may not possess.
“I think it did [make me more determined]. I was there from the ages of nine and 14 and it came as a shock to me because I was doing well at the time,” said Nketiah. “Declan [Rice] was of that age group as well and had a similar experience. I think it gives you an awakening and just knowing that things can change like that – that you can lose everything you have worked for.”
“It gives you that extra bit of motivation and resilience when times are hard. I’m able to dig a level deeper than maybe some people can or don’t want to go into. It’s all part of the experience. Some boys might not have experienced it but then they will have had lows in their careers. This was my journey and it has helped me by who I am today,” he added.
Chelsea will be kicking themselves over Declan Rice
Nketiah has grown into a fine player but Rice’s career progression will feel like an almighty kick in the teeth for Chelsea.
Rice became a star with West Ham before earning his huge move to Arsenal, where he is already making a massive impact.
Maybe Rice wouldn’t have become the player he is today without that setback; that’s certainly what Nketiah has hinted at in his comments.
Yet having witnessed Chelsea splash more than £200million in Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, it must sting to have had a top-quality midfielder in the building many years ago and let him go.
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