Danny Murphy has praised Eddie Nketiah for his ability in front of the goal as Arsenal beat Oxford United in the FA Cup. The Gunners star scored twice as Mikel Arteta’s side won 3-0.
Nketiah hit home on 70’ and 76 minutes to double his squad’s lead at the Kassam Stadium on Monday night. Mohamed Elneny (63’) had broken the deadlock just moments earlier as he headed home a free-kick from Fabio Vieira. The Portuguese also created Nketiah’s first.
Vieira played a perfectly weighted ball through to Nketiah, who soon secured his brace. He lifted the ball over Oxford goalkeeper Eddie McGinty from Gabriel Martinelli’s ball. The 23-year-old now has seven goals and an assist over 27 games in all competitions this season.
Nketiah has scored twice in the FA Cup, Premier League and Europa League this term, plus once in the EFL Cup. The former England U21 international has also scored four goals over as many games since stepping up to fill Gabriel Jesus’ void following the Brazilian’s surgery.
Only Newcastle United had managed to stop Nketiah from scoring since Arsenal lost Jesus to a knee injury. The Gunners product scored once against West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion. He had not struck in 12 Premier League games this term before stepping in.
Murphy lauds Nketiah for scoring twice as Arsenal beat Oxford in the FA Cup
Nketiah showed great composure with each of his goals to help Arsenal beat Oxford in the FA Cup. The forward stayed cool while rounding McGinty from Vieira’s pass to roll the ball home into an empty net. He again showed his grace with a classy chip just moments later.
Murphy was full of praise for Nketiah’s goalscoring ability after effectively sealing the win for Arsenal at Oxford. The Hale Ender now has 30 goals and three assists in 115 senior games with the Gunners. He penned a personal-best single-season high of 10 goals in 27 last term.
“He was never missing,” Murphy said on talkSPORT (09/01, 21:36). “He’s a natural finisher this lad. He’ll always score goals in this side.”
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