Granit Xhaka has tipped Arsenal attacker Eddie Nketiah to impress following the news that Gabriel Jesus will miss up to three months of action due to a knee injury.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, the Swiss international was full of confidence in the 23-year-old England youth international ahead of the return of Premier League football. Nketiah is Arsenal’s only fit centre-forward with Jesus now out on the sideline, with the attacker set to lead the line this week in mid-season friendlies out in Dubai.
Nketiah signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners in the summer worth a reported £100,000-a-week after impressing in the latter stages of last season. And now, the attacker will be expected to replicate this form yet again in Jesus’ absence.
Although the forward is yet to start a Premier League game this season, Nketiah has been a regular in the UEFA Europa League for the Gunners, starting all six games in Europe and scoring two goals, with the striker also finding the net in Arsenal’s 3-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup.
Replacing Jesus will be no easy task for Nketiah. However, the Arsenal man has shown many times in the past that he can be a regular goalscorer when given the chance. And Xhaka is confident that the Hale End academy product can do just that in the coming weeks.
Xhaka said about Jesus’ injury: “We have the option with Eddie, of course. He showed great games as well in the past and we need to support Gabi first. We need to support Eddie as well, because he will be a big, big part of the next two or three months. But I am looking forward because we have the quality to bring Eddie there and to help him.”
Nketiah has the potential to make huge Arsenal claim with Jesus out
Many believed Nketiah took a risk in committing his future to Arsenal when it was obvious that the Gunners were going to sign a new striker in the summer. However, Jesus’ injury will now give the English attacker the opportunity needed to impress the many doubters currently on the forward’s back.
After all, Nketiah has the potential to become a top striker. And the youngster now has the opportunity to take his game and his reputation to a whole new level with the forward now set to start most of Arsenal’s games in the coming weeks amid Jesus’ injury.
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