Mikel Arteta praised Eddie Nketiah as an exceptional striker after the Arsenal academy product netted an impressive hat-trick in the team’s 5-0 victory over Sheffield United in the Premier League. Despite facing difficulties in the past while playing as a main striker, Nketiah has already scored five goals in 10 league games this season, tying his best record in a single top-flight season.
Eddie Nketiah stepped up to fill in for the injured Gabriel Jesus and managed to score three goals for Arsenal against a struggling Sheffield United team. Later on, substitutes Fábio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu added two more goals to seal the win. This was the perfect ending to a fantastic few weeks for Nketiah, who also made his debut for the senior England team during a friendly match against Australia earlier this month.
Arteta expressed his joy for the academy player who got to achieve a hat-trick in the Premier League. He advised him to savor the moment and acknowledged that he deserved it. Arteta also praised the player’s goal-scoring abilities, citing his impressive stats from the past decade. He believes that with more playing time, opportunities, and good service, the player will continue to score goals.
The player is a valuable asset to Arsenal, but there is room for improvement. His talent is impressive, but even more so is his incredible mentality. When he combines his talent with his strong mindset, he will continue to improve greatly.
Nketiah, who honored his deceased aunt with his three goals, admitted he considered taking the penalty that could have given him a fourth goal, but ultimately decided to let Vieira have a chance to score as well. “At first, I wanted to take the penalty, but Fábio won it and it was a great opportunity,” he explained. “Being a team player is important. It was his turn to take the shot and he made it count.”
Arteta stated that the captain of the club, Martin Ødegaard, did not play in the game and was given a break due to a minor hip problem he had been dealing with.
Sheffield United’s recent loss in the Premier League marks their ninth defeat in the last 10 games, keeping them firmly at the bottom of the table and on track for relegation back to the Championship.
There have been reports indicating that Paul Heckingbottom may be at risk of losing his job. However, the manager is standing his ground as his team heads into a crucial stretch of matches against fellow relegation contenders Wolves, Bournemouth, and Burnley in three out of the next four games.
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The individual affirmed that they will persist in giving their all and standing up for their team. They acknowledged that there may be external opinions and rumors, but they will choose to disregard them and focus on fulfilling their responsibilities.
“The outcome of our season will not be determined solely by our visit to the Emirates. We are now entering a period where we will face many of the teams in our proximity. These are crucial moments that we must seize and approach with determination.”
Source: theguardian.com
