With Pierre-Emerick and Alexandre Lacazette monopolising the centre-forward position, and the rise of Saka, Smith-Rowe and Martinelli for the other forward positions at Arsenal, it has been extremely difficult for Eddie Nketiah to get even a sniff of first-team football this season.
But this weekend it was revealed that Aubameyang has been suffering from malaria, which has definitely affected his form and fitness, and then Lacazette was taken off during the weekend’s game against Fulham, and Mikel Arteta did not seem too confident that h the Frenchman will be returning to the side very quickly.
The coach told Arsenal.com: “We’ll have to see [how long he will be out for],” he said. “We’ll have the scan, probably on Tuesday, to see the extent of the injury and the timeline for it. But I don’t know.
“I cannot tell if it’s going to be a week, two weeks, five weeks or six weeks. He felt something in his hamstring and we don’t know the extent of it. We are all disappointed because we all know the moment that Laca was on.”
Yes Laca has been on fire lately, with a brace against both Sheffield United and Slavia Prague, but this could be the chance that Nketiah has been waiting for. After not playing since the New Year, he replaced Lacazette for the last 20 minutes against Fulham, and popped up with the last-gasp 96th minute equaliser.
As Arteta said after the game: “It was great [to see him score], that’s why he came on and that’s why it’s a great option that we have with him,”
“He always shows that real desire to score goals. I think he had another two big chances to score and he put one in the back of the net.”
So it is likely that Eddie will now start against Everton, and this could be his big chance to show Arteta what he is worth as a starter rather than a supersub. I really hope that he grabs this chance with both hands and grab a couple of goals, for himself as well as the team.
Come on Eddie! Here is your big chance!
Eddie’s not good enough for an Elite team.
We are not an Elite team. So it doesn’t matter at all .
Lol the sad undeniable truth.
Nketia Martinelli Pepe Saka Balogun could all get minutes v the Toffees.
Everton’s recent form has been totally vile while Arsenal is only slightly better.
With two eyes on Villareal , injuries and with Everton desperate for European football it’s any ones to win.
Arsenal 2-1.
Wyoming ! We usually give points to teams in their worst form. Having said that if we turn up we might nick it today. And if we are generous of which we are then Everton wins home and away
From what I’ve seen of him so far, Nketiah is a decent enough player but not of the quality needed for a regular striker in a top-6 / top-4 team, which is what we need. So I guess he’ll get a chance to impress but I doubt he has the quality of an in-form Aubameyang or Lacazette, and don’t expect to see him playing in that capacity for Arsenal in the long run.
If we won’t buy Edouard, then we better don’t buy anybody.
We have more than enough youngsters who are not bad at all, even from the academy.
Let’s give our own kids, chances to shine.
Arsenal! We make stars, and not buy them. I don’t know what has happened to this policy. After all, we used to be known as a stars selling club. Even now we are buying, nothing seems to be better than before.
As you rightly said, we are buying, but not buying stars or buying future stars but buying for the sake of buying or buying fading stars. Marteneli, ESR, Saka, Holding and Chambers – all took their chances. Why not try Balogun? Eddie is good off the bench, not sure for a start, but being young, hope he develops into a fine player.
Not at the level we need, with no disrespect to his effort. We still don’t seem to be able to make that next step of performance & consistency, be it due to players, tactics or team selection. Another indicator we’re not good enough, but the money men think we deserve to be in a super league (which I don’t agree with at any level). Spurs sack Jose supposedly due to performances, but they’re still above us in the table. Are we expected to accept average (with effort)? If so, where are we headed as a club?
Nketiah…No No No No No No
With respect GF – JM is a very experienced manager. MA is a rookie manager. Not really a fair comparison regarding reasonable expectations.
You’re right but as a club, what should the expectations be? I don’t know what Arsenal will turn up to most games & normally don’t feel confident in the result until the final whistle. Obviously squad depth is impacting us, but you know what’s likely with Elneny playing (again, effort good, inconsistent quality) – & Thanks for the reasonable response as it’s just my opinion!
Though he normally puts effort when he is playing, I don’t think he has lived up to expectations, he had his chances before. I’d rather try Balogun or Martinelli in the striker position if Aubameyang is not ready
True, how many “big chances” has Nketiah had and fluffed. He has never kicked on since he joined the 1st team, and he should be having a go somewhere on loan, not getting his training wheels at Arsenal.
We had options to sell Auba and or Laca at high prices 2 years in a row.
Yet we do not, which does not allow youngsters to step up.
Sign Willian and send Nelson with U23 as Rowe spend most time before everyone gets injured and forces manager to play him this winter.
We would not have seen him as last year and first part of season without injuries combined.
Nketiah should be on loan as Martinelli and Nelson who should not been brought back after taking Germany by storm in a half season time. But let him fulfill his devellopment.
Willock is on the rise and so dominant with Newcastle.
Niles will have more options and wont be surprised to see a top club sign and play him…..
Nketiah has been given enough time. I don’t see any talent in him to make him take any chances given to him. I believe he is even blocking the path of other emerging youngster in the academy. Time to loan him out for a year. See how Iwobi and Nelson would have blocked the path of Saka if we had persisted with them.
I prefer a Mc burnie of shef utd to a yard six striker
Welp none of us are excited about Nketiah as starting striker but this is what we have.. I think the game comes down to the team selected behind Eddie. Gonna need our wingers to have big games… After the fulham disaster I’m weary of hoping for anything better than a Draw.
Nkeitah is not our major problem in scoring. He is trying hard, but let’s be real, the time he played we did not have any of the playmakers around him so he was trying from nothing.
He deserves a chance and I would love to see Balogun as well. We are not going anywhere in the PL anyway, let’s see our youngsters!