Chris Sutton admits ‘I was wrong’ on Eddie Nketiah as the striker has been ‘outstanding’ at Arsenal since Gabriel Jesus’ injury. He has now scored six goals in his last six appearances.
Expectations were rife that the Gunners would struggle after Jesus underwent surgery on a knee injury in December. But Mikel Arteta has seen Nketiah rise to the challenge of leading Arsenal in the Brazilian’s spot. He has also kept their club at the top of the Premier League.
Nketiah has scored four goals through his five top-flight appearances since the World Cup break and coming in for Jesus. The 23-year-old also bagged a brace at Oxford United in the FA Cup third round. He had not scored in the top-flight over 12 outings before Qatar 2022.
Arteta seldom trusted Nketiah in Premier League games following Jesus’ £45m switch from Manchester City last July. The Brazilian transformed the Spaniard’s frontline whilst offering five goals plus six assists. His arrival left Nketiah to make his 12 appearances off the bench.
Nketiah’s longest Premier League appearance before the World Cup also lasted 29 minutes against Fulham. He only played for 15 or more minutes on five occasions, as well. Instead, the attacker opened all six of their Europa League Group A ties for two goals and an assist.
Nketiah has kept Arsenal at the top of the table to justify his contract
Losing Jesus until, at least, February threatened to derail Arsenal’s hopes of winning a first Premier League title since 2003/04. Yet Nketiah has kept the club atop the tree after goals against West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion and a brace against Manchester United.
Nketiah drew Arsenal level at 1-1 against the Red Devils before netting their winner in the 90th minute on Sunday. Only Martin Odegaard (8), Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli (7) and Jesus (5) have now hit more top-flight goals for Arsenal so far this season than Nketiah (4).
His efforts also go to show why Arteta backed giving Nketiah a £100k-a-week contract and the No14 shirt last summer. The Hale End product was due to be a free agent last summer. But he committed his future until 2027 after five goals in seven fixtures to end the season.
Sutton admits ‘I was wrong’ to suggest Jesus could not be replaced
Sutton also now admits ‘I was wrong’ to suggest Jesus would be ‘irreplaceable’ in Arsenal’s attack after his surgery and Nketiah having to start instead. He even believes the forward can now act as Harry Kane’s understudy for England after years of seeking out his backup.
“Gareth Southgate can only be loving this,” Sutton wrote in his column for the Daily Mail. “For so long, we’ve wondered who can deputise for Harry Kane. Callum Wilson? Dominic Calvert-Lewin? Ivan Toney? Danny Ings?
“Well, how about the guy who took over from Alan Shearer and Francis Jeffers as the record scorer for England’s Under 21s? Nketiah is showing why all is not lost if we lose Kane.
“When Jesus’ injury was confirmed, we all wondered: ‘Can Arsenal cope?’ Not only have they coped, if anything they’ve improved. That’s down to Nketiah seamlessly taking over, in spite of the pressure he must have been feeling deep down. He’s been so outstanding.”
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