Arsene Wenger Hails Nketiah: ‘Since A Kid, Eddie Scored Goals’

Arsene Wenger hails Arsenal’s man of the moment…

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has backed Eddie Nketiah after the 24-year-old bagged his first Premier League hat-trick for the club against Sheffield United on Saturday, beIN SPORTS reports.

Wenger gave Nketiah his debut in 2017 against Norwich City, and the Hale End graduate marked his first game with a brace as he secured our passage to the fourth round of the League Cup.

The England international has had a turbulent campaign since then with a few loan spells and periods where it looked like he was seeking pastures news.

However, Mikel Arteta’s appointment will go down as a critical point in Nketiah’s career due to the fondness the Spaniard has always had for the striker.

Arteta recalled him from his loan at Leeds United weeks after his appointment and immediately threw Nketiah into the starting XI for league games ahead of the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Now, with Nketiah the main man as we manage yet another Gabriel Jesus injury, Wenger backed the forward’s ability to constantly score goals.

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“It was a good run into the box in the start,” Wenger said as he analysed our game for beIN Sports.

“He’s a great finisher, Eddie. Since a kid, he’s scored goals and his first touch was fantastic.

“He knows where to be and he responds quickly, he has a short back-lift and it makes all the difference,” Wenger added.

Arsenal’s No.14 has now scored five goals in 10 Premier League games and has justified the continued faith Arteta has shown in him.

Nketiah has already surpassed his tally last season and will need to continue this run if we’re to mount yet another title challenge with goals required to be shared.

Arsenal’s transfer strategy will certainly depend on Nketiah’s form over the next eight weeks.