Alexandre Lacazette missed training ahead of our Premier League clash with Southampton this weekend, but can Eddie Nketiah step up and prove he deserves to be at Arsenal?
At this point in time, nobody is even considering the English forward as someone who could still be at the Emirates come the start of next season, but with him likely to get the nod to lead the line against the Saints, there is still time for him to make an impression.
The 22 year-old has a keen eye for goal, as proven by taking Alan Shearer’s all-time goalscoring record for the England Under-21 side, and has been threatening to make his mark when featuring in the cup competitions this season.
Those performances in the League Cup and FA Cup were not enough to convince Mikel to give him a start in the PL however, but after starring in pre-season with strong performances which included goals and assists, I’m not worried about going into the weekend with him potentially in the starting line-up.
Let’s be honest, Lacazette is no more likely to be amongst the goals than Eddie, although you could argue that some of the Frenchman’s best work is done off the ball and in the build-up to the attack. Nketiah is a goal poacher though, and has the trickery and guile to put pressure on defenders in a different way, and I’m a little surprised he hasn’t had more opportunities in recent seasons.
I understand that the lack of minutes should mean a lack of belief from the boss, but I prefer to comment on what I have seen instead of what I haven’t, and I’ve seen young Eddie perform well whenever he has started this season, and should he get the nod this weekend, I hope he doesn’t let me or himself down, as there could still be a future for him at the Emirates if he can show he is ready for this.
Do any of you believe we will stand no chance of a win if Nketiah leads the line this weekend? Who else is backing Nketiah to impress if given the chance from kick-off?
Patrick
He seems Championship level for me, but no harm in trying him out next game considering Laca hasn’t been offering anything of late.
Championship level?I disagree,I believe that like Patrick Bamford his game is better suited to the PL.this season,had he been playing for teams like West- Ham,Palace…and especially Brighton, he would already be on double digits for sure.it is like a recent JA article which said that he was not good enough for us but for West-Ham,yes??are we really that much better than WH??
He is a good goal poacher. He has no physical attributes or skills that would suggest he has the potential to be an elite striker.
We are not much better than WH but if we really want to be challenging regularly for the CL he is below the level required.
Give him a shot, Lacazette has been pretty poor, and last scored in open play on Boxing day, we can’t get any worse, so give him a goal, he wants to leave so he would give everything to look good for potential clubs interested in him
I am a fan of Eddie, I think he should have been given an opportunity with a run in the side last season when Auba was performing poorly and again this for the same reason
I must admit I thought Eddie would sign a new contract and stay, now I’m not sure that will happen but if he gets his first Premier League start of the season tomorrow I’m certain he will give his all
As I say he hasn’t started a League game so far this term but apart from the Forest game has performed very well as a goalscorer in Cup games
I appreciate the opposition was lower but two of the three hat trick goals against Sunderland would have been considered top quality in any game
I wish him well if he starts against Southampton but it is now a big ask for him to have the impact that fans want at this point in time, he is good enough in my view but like any striker he needs good service and to be allowed to miss a few before he gets a few and the clock is now ticking for this season for him
Even blind squirrels find the occasional nut, so it’s possible Nketiah could find the goal.
I’d rather see Martinelli as striker (movement, runs, & pace,) Pepe and Saka as the wingers. Saka on the LW could track back helping Tavares at LB.
Also Xhaka in left midfield can sit back a bit to cover and help Tavares.
Can also sub off Pepe late in 2nd half for Nketiah or Laca and move Martinelli back to the wing.
Nketiah’s headless running around isn’t the answer to Laca’s slow pace and toothless performances.
Sure, Martinelli and pepe should be above Eddie in the pecking order.If I was the manager I would have been using this two interchangeable with Lacca more oftenly and am sure our goal difference would have been better than it is.
Since Lacazette seems distracted, Arsenal had better give Nketiah one more chance. This could change his mind of leaving
If he doesn’t play well in Southampton, we could always replace him with Lacazette or Smith-Rowe in the second half. This will also make Lacazette able to rest for a while
I also reckon Nketiah to be a poacher like Aubameyang, but he seems to have improved his hold-up play slightly
Gai,
I think this is the best time for Eddie to be given chance by Arteta and for the player to also prove his worth. A good example is Cedric Soars who has now been recalled to the National team because he took his chances well..
Eddie has improved his holdup play just need more self confidence and take to take his chance we’ll.. I personally don’t want us to lose him that boy has goals in him. If we get our setup right and the boys are ready to fight tomorrow, the players available are well and able to do the job and win at Soton. At this stage of 8 games to go, Lacazette, T. Pathey, K. Thieney and Tomiyasu absence would not be taken as excuse for failure by the fans.
I got a feeling Arteta might play Smith-Rowe as the false nine, instead of Nketiah
OT:MA has confirmed that Lacazette didn’t train yesterday (and today I think), apparently for personal reasons.i’m hoping that whatever it is,it is nothing serious.
Eddie has 5 goals and 2 assists in 51 epl appearances for us and some how you are hoping he takes his chances to save his future. If most think Pepe doesn’t have a future with us, I do not see Eddie with one.
Exactly. Would much rather see more game time / experiment up-front with Pepe & Martinelli than waste more time with Nketiah.
Doesn’t matter what happens anymore this season, he’s off.
OT:Sean Dyche sacked by Burnley , what a shock!!
Yes @ Siamois. Bit of a shock. Didn’t see that one coming. There’s our man. He might toughen our guys up, and get them to play with abit of mongrel in them😁😁😁
Seems like perfect chance to try martinellie up front. Jf Eddie has not been offered a new contract or is willing to sign one then either way he is done at arsenal. Why give him the chance and not someone we actually might play in the future
Nketiah offers nothing, I believe Nketiah would function better as a 2nd striker, he should be played alongside Pepe/Lacazette , with Martinelli and saka on the flanks,
Nketiah as a lone striker will never perform.
If we need an immediate solution, play him off the main striker .
Why not play Biereth instead of Eddie. He seems to be a talented striker.
Yep, better take chance on Biereth.
Eddie did get a chance with a decent run in the team but did poorly, he’s just not fit for a top six side,
Teams like Leeds and Brighton could be good for him, we have to look above Eddie if want to be competing at the top.
Not for me anyway. It’s now a case of beggars can’t be choosers so Eddie it is, worst luck.
It is simple. Nketiah is NOT good enough. How many times must that be repeated. Crystal Palace was one thing but when Arteta played Xhaka at left back vs Brighton I though that was idiotic. Xhaka always sells us against Brighton, remember vs Brighton when he gave the most STUPID penalty away when we missed the Champions League by one point. Arteta does not learn from his mistakes. So sad that once again Arteta’s tactical mistakes are costing us dearly.
Whatever be the case in our today’s Epl match away to So’ton. The Gunners have to win the match for us irrespective of which Arsenal strikers Mikel Arteta has starting the match.
This is true so that Arsenal does not further jeopardize our chance to finish in the top4 this season than they have already jeopardized it. When they lost their last 2 matches consecutively to consequently dropped 6 points. And give their arch rivals and Ucl qualifying opponent team Tottenham Hs the chance to go 4th in the table to sit above us on 5th which is one of the Europa League spots.
If Arsenal are going to attract top quality and world class players to sign for us next summer transfer window, then they have to finish in the top4 this season so as to play in the Ucl next season. So that top quality and world class players e.g. Cardwin Nunez or the hot Mbappe can link up with us next summer.
In our away match against Southampton today’s afternoon. Arteta will have to choose between if he has to take a gamble to do something different from the usual that he has doing or stick with his usual doings. But which saw the Gunners capitulated in their last 2 matches.
I personally will advice Arteta to start some fresh legs who are fit and in-form for our Saints match today. And bench the fatigued and tired legs.
We are short in centrebacks as Mari is on loan. But Holding who is available should start in place of the looking to be burnt out Gabriel Magalhaes. But who comes in for the looking to be fatigued Ben White? One of the youth CBs who Arteta has regularly been including on the bench?
And will Arteta start Pepe and Nkethia as duo strikers for this our Saints match? With Martinelli and Saka playing as wide men and tracking back? And play a .back-three of Cedric, Holding and Taveres. While Xhaka, Lokonga and ESR mann the midfield. And Leno start to tender the goal in place of Ramsdale who has conceded 6 or was it 5 times in his last 2 recent starts. Well, it’s up to Arteta to decide who I implore to show confidence in Taveres to start this match.