Mikel Arteta has stated that Eddie Nketiah trains ‘the best’ in training for Arsenal, as he told his post-match press conference.
On Wednesday night, Nketiah, who has found game time tough at Arsenal this season, started during his side’s 3-0 win against Wimbledon in the EFL Cup.
Ten minutes from time, Nketiah scored a quite with a quite brilliant flick from the near post to put his side’s third goal before he was subbed.
It was some much-needed minutes for Nketiah and a much-needed goal for a player that could have left this summer.
It’s obvious that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are the two main men up front, so that does limit Nketiah’s game time, hence the speculation about him.
Arteta addressed that and stated that the 22-year-old ‘gives us a less every day’ on how to do things the right way.
“I think Eddie give us a lesson every day for how a professional should lead in his job,” said Arteta.
“There has been a lot of speculation around him. A lot of debate. He puts his head down. He trains harder than anybody else. He looks after himself.
“And he supporters his teammates in any circumstances, so I am so happy for him and it’s not a coincidence that he is able to perform at that level.
“Physically, how he manages the game because he trains like the best every day, so I am delighted for him.”
This is a big season for Nketiah because he has to take the opportunites – and they could be limited – that are provided to him.
Given the talk about his future in the summer, that will only re-ignite itself if he finds himself floundering on the bench come the winter transfer window.
Even though Arsenal have picked things up of late, it’s not like they have been pulling up trees this season, so there are chances there.
But after his goal in the EFL Cup, he will be hoping for that chance to arrive this Sunday during that all-important North London derby.
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