Gary Neville questions 24-year-old Arsenal player after Spurs draw

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Gary Neville has questioned Eddie Nketiah’s goalscoring instincts after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah wasn’t at his best as the Gunners could only draw 2-2 with rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

That is the view of pundit Gary Neville, who questioned the striker’s instincts having passed up a potential chance to score at 2-2.

Arsenal had taken the lead in the first half with Cristian Romero deflecting Bukayo Saka’s strike into his own net.

Son Heung-min pulled Spurs level before Saka had Arsenal back in front from the penalty spot, only for Son to immediately bring Tottenham level again.

It finished 2-2 but Arsenal fans may feel that their attacking players just didn’t offer enough on the day.

Gary Neville criticises Eddie Nketiah display

One chance late on saw an Arsenal win a flick-on from a corner, but the ball went out of play at the back post for a goal kick.

Pundit Neville couldn’t believe what he was seeing as Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah was lurking at the back post.

Instead of dashing in to attack a flick-on, Nketiah was late to react and the chance passed him by.

Neville (24/09, 15:45) told Sky Sports that Nketiah simply has to be in there sensing a chance to score like Ian Wright did in an Arsenal shirt.

Neville felt that Nketiah had to be busting a lung to go and put the ball in the net, questioning just how he didn’t have the anticipation for the opportunity.

“I’m looking at Nketiah at the back post… oh no, you’ve got to be in there!” said Neville. “Ian Wright springs to mind, that was his position. How can Eddie Nketiah not smell and sniff and anticipate that one?”

“He has got to be there. That’s his job! Look at him there, he has got to be flying in at that back post and he’s late,” he added.

This wasn’t Nketiah’s day

Nketiah really didn’t impress today; one shot on target, two tackles won, one dispossession and a yellow card.

The booking was a nasty moment too as Nketiah went flying in on Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario; on another day, that could have been a red.

Nketiah played the full 90 minutes but completed just six passes, cutting a frustrated figure in the Arsenal attack.

Questions remain over whether Nketiah is really good enough to lead the line for where Arsenal want to go, and today’s display did little to answer those questions.