How Nketiah's Chelsea heroics could save Arsenal millions in the summer transfer window
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 21 Apr 2022 17:47 BST
- 4 min read
Eddie Nketiah's brace against Chelsea helped Arsenal to a crucial 4-2 win and three vital points in their bid to finish inside the top four and secure Champions League football.
Bringing the elite European competition back to the Emirates had looked in doubt following three straight defeats in the Premier League, but two goals from Nketiah and one apiece from Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka ensured it's back in Arsenal's hands.
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It's notable that all four goals were scored by Hale End academy graduates, which shows the value of Arsenal's youth system. However, while two of the goalscorers at Stamford Bridge have become key cogs in Mikel Arteta's Arsenal machine, one is certainly an outlier.
Smith Rowe and Saka are now full England internationals and have been vital to Arsenal's transformation this season, but Nketiah has suffered a different fate.
The forward is England's U21s record goal-scorer, with 16 goals in 17 caps, but he's never been able to make the step up to the senior team due to his lack of first-team football. In fact, fellow Arsenal youngster, currently on loan at Middlesbrough, Folarin Balogun has taken up Nketiah's role as the national team's U21 number nine so the man who took down Chelsea can't even fall back on that anymore.
Nketiah is clearly a very talented forward, but doubts have always been present about whether he's good enough for Arsenal's senior team. A huge bright spark from the academy, Nketiah's brief loan spell at Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa encouraged the Gunners to recall him but he's not yet managed to make a dent in the first-team.
Despite being two years Saka's senior, Nketiah has managed 39 less appearances than the winger, with more of his games being from the substitutes bench as well.
This season, Nketiah has amassed just two Premier League starts, with both coming in the past week. With Alexandre Lacazette the first-choice option, despite scoring just once in 2022, Nketiah has been forced to deal with scraps which has led to rumours of an exit.
Could Nketiah now stay at Arsenal?
His contract is set to expire at the end of this season, as is Lacazette's, which will leave Arsenal without a recognised senior striker. Nketiah himself recently told The Beautiful Game Podcast: "My deal runs out, and obviously there have been talks and offers of a new contract, but my aim is to play football and play regularly. That’s my ambition and what I hope to do.
"I’m at Arsenal and I love Arsenal, so I’m just focusing until the end of the season, then I’ll sit down and take the best opportunity which allows me to take those steps and develop.
"I signed a contract for five years when I was 18 and how many starts have I had? Maybe 30 games? People start 30 games in one season. I’ve seen players that I’ve played with kick on."
With Nketiah simply seeking a club that will trust him enough to reward his talent, Arsenal are concerned he will leave. But, after his two goal showing against Chelsea, as well as an excellent all-round performance, the Gunners could let a supremely talented player go.
Mikel Arteta admitted after to Sky Sports the game that he hasn't perhaps treated Nketiah fairly this season. "If there is one player that I have been unfair with I think it’s him [Nketiah]," he said.
"He has given me every right to do something different, and if Eddie doesn’t play more, it’s my fault and because as a manager I missed something or I haven’t had the courage to play him more. Today he showed me more how wrong I was."
Nketiah scored as many goals in one night at Stamford Bridge than Alexandre Lacazette has managed across his last 18 appearances for Arsenal, which shows that the Englishman deserves a chance until the end of the campaign.
With Nketiah showing Arteta what he can do against Chelsea, it may stop Arsenal from heavily investing in a new forward this summer.
The club have been linked with moves for the likes of Jonathan David, Tammy Abraham and Darwin Nunez, among others, but if Arteta believes Nketiah can fill the role of his perfect number nine, then those transfer targets can be forgotten.
Of course, a new player in forward areas would still be targeted given Arsenal's lack of depth, but the club may not need to break the bank on a guaranteed starter if Nketiah is to be entrusted with that role.
One game could end up changing Nketiah's career and the player selected to be Arsenal's future number nine.
