‘Look at his touch’: Ian Wright wowed by Arsenal 23-year-old as title charge continues

Follow us on Google Discover

Ian Wright expressed his happiness for Eddie Nketiah after Arsenal beat West Ham United 3-1 on Boxing Day to continue their charge at the top of the Premier League table.

With Gabriel Jesus injured, there was a lot of talk and spotlight on Nketiah and Wright shared that he showcased his worth against the Hammers.

The Gunners had to come back from 1-0 down to secure all three points, with Wright praising Nketiah’s ‘touch’ and ‘awareness’ during his goal.

There was a lot of talk about Arsenal losing momentum during the World Cup break, but that wasn’t on show against their London neighbours.

They have re-started where they left off, but as each game ticks by, the pressure will only continue to grow.

If the Gunners are to deal with that pressure, then players like Nketiah need to perform in the long-term, as Wright liked what he saw during the 23-year-old’s first start of the Premier League season, as he told MatchDay Extra on PL Productions (26/12/22 at 10:00 pm).

“The goals have been shared out,” said Wright. “Gabriel Jesus is a magnificent player for us and he gives us more than just goals. But you see Nketiah scored, delighted for him. Saka scored and Martinelli scored. The goals are being shared out.

“It’s the way Jesus works that is going to be missed, but the way Eddie worked, I am delighted for him. He scored his goal and he worked his socks off.

“It was very important he scored because I thought he was having a very good game. Like I said, he can’t be Gabriel Jesus and the work rate he gives.

“But look at Nketiah’s awareness, his touch, his turn and he knows where the goal is. Look at where he is. Pushes himself on the West Ham defender. He is feeling him, then rolls him. That’s what he does. If you get the ball in the box, like this, then that’s what he is capable of doing. He has done it all the way through his career.”

WILL ARSENAL SIGN MUDRYK?

With Jesus out injured, the one player name that continues to get mentioned about securing a transfer in January is Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is keen on the move.

It will be interesting to see what other door Arsenal knock on because Mudryk prefers to play out on the left and he isn’t exactly a Gabriel Jesus-like player.

Either way, a big January awaits those at the Emirates Stadium because it might just give an insight into how the rest of the season will pan out for them.