Eddie Nketiah is expected to lead the line for Arsenal now that Gabriel Jesus is injured, and he will have to work very hard to fill the boots of the Brazilian.
Nketiah was in superb form for the Gunners towards the end of last season, which prompted the club to hand him a new deal and a legendary shirt number.
However, Jesus’ summer arrival has limited his playing chances as he has to be satisfied with only a few minutes in some games and even spends the whole match on the bench in others.
With Jesus injured, he led the line against Juventus in a friendly game last night and did not impress.
The attacker had some chances, and The Sun reports on a sitter he missed by smashing the ball wide of goal with just the keeper to beat.
That certainly isn’t a sign that he has what it takes to replace Jesus and could force Arsenal into buying a striker in January.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Nketiah is a very talented player, and he showed that at the end of last season, but he must start scoring again if he wants us to avoid signing another striker as his replacement.
The performance against Juventus was not good enough, and that must change if he wants us to trust him as our backup option.
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Didnt even give his coach confidence how are we supposed to have confidence in him? TBH a club like arsenal shouldnt be having eddie as main striker. he’s not 2nd striker for any of the top 6 so why should he start for us?
The question is would jesus had perform any better, if he has Marquinhos and by his side. I dnt think so. I still think Eddie needs a run of games with our first eleven b4 we can judge him
Marquinhos and fabio viera by side
Unfortunately we are in a very familiar territory now with Eddie. He is not new to us, he blows hot and cold too much. We need a consistent striker who does one thing very well whether it’s scoring or creating. GJ doesnt score many goals but he’s the reason we’ve been bullying defenders into submission. Unfortunately, Eddie doesnt offer that.
Nketiah deserved his chance, but has he taken it in these last 3 games? I don’t have the faith he will get us through until Jesus returns, whenever that is! We need reinforcements otherwise I fear another implosion.
Haven’t seen the match but a herd Eddie looks sharp against Juventus
He had an excellent game but that is irrelevant to the narratives people are pushing. He scored twice once disallowed for offside, once for a foul committed by Gabriel beforehand, hit the post and very nearly dispossessed the GK pressing (something he has done before) all while actually impressing with his link-up play which would have been the primary concern. In the other games, he scored and we won so it’s odd that a narrative is being constructed to suggest he was either poor or missed his chance to impress.
Quite the opposite! We had all the ball but couldnt do s*** Juve defenders had an easy game
19 v 3 for shots, 2 v 1 for shots on targets and 0 v 0 for clear-cut chances. Call that riding Juve riding their luck rather than having an easy game. Juve actually managed to score 2 with only 1 shot on target and both were defections anyway. It was a bit laboured in the final 3rd but Nketiah played well and mostly it was just one of those days where nothing quite comes off.
Nketiah’s fantastic chest off to Viera who struck it well goes down as off-target as Viera’s shot was blocked for instance but it was not easy for Juve at all at that moment and well worked by Nketiah. Numerous examples of this throughout the game.
Fair enough. I’m just a little bit unsettled! having 20 odd shots without a goal doesn’t sit right with me!
Two contrasting views, but he has a clear shot at a couple games , let’s support him against West Ham and see how it goes .
Extended highlights or the full match are available in good quality on arsenal.com
Thanks mate
Sorry but no ,we definitely need to buy.
Please children, stop bickering, it was meaninglessness friendly, like all friendlies, for fitness. Nketiah will not be judged on friendlies, anyone who does, doesn’t understand professional football. He will and should be judged on the games that count, PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES, of which he has a lot of proving to do. Arteta and Edu decided he would be our 2nd striker, he isnt as good as Jesus but no 2nd striker would be. Its down to how the manager handles the fact we need to play one player who isn’t first choice. NOTHING NEW FOR ANY MANAGER. I will judge on the prem and how Nketiah grabs his chance. So should you.
No
Never!
I don’t believe he’s good enough for Arsenal especially at a time such as this when Arsenal have the opportunity to win a major trophy
Should never be at the club.
Championship level at best.
Thought we had learned from our mistakes at Arsenal but to pay him £1,000 a week is criminal.
Who else would pay that for him in wages
He has to be playing for his spot at Arsenal, and if he fails us well then we need to move him on. He’s getting his shot right now to prove to everyone that he is worth his large contract. I have thoughts on the matter ever since our car crash end of season and his bump in pay rise, it’s up to him now to prove to me and others that Edu/Arteta was right to keep the faith. We will know one way or the other, let’s not have any excuses, this is the defining moment