EDDIE NKETIAH is doing what all good strikers do… score goals.
With two in his last two, he will be knocking on Mikel Arteta’s door to get a starting spot next time out.
Eddie Nketiah will be hoping his goals against West Ham and Leicester will earn him a start in the Premier League at Anfield on MondayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But has he done enough to convince his boss to start him at Anfield on Monday night – and then potentially again just a few days later?
If he has, he will need to be at his best up against Virgil van Dijk & Co.
The Arsenal striker, 21, turned up when his side desperately needed him to find a late winner off the bench against West Ham.
And given a start at Leicester tonight he sealed the deal with a minute to go, completing a 2-0 win.
Nketiah’s 90th-minute poacher’s finish will not win any goal-of-the-season awards that’s for certain.
Mind you, they all count – even when falling over on to the goal line.
The Gunners academy graduate, though, knows nothing speaks volumes more for front men than goals.
So Arteta will be impressed by his man’s predatory instincts to capitalise on Danny Ward’s hesitancy.
The Englishman showed ultimate poacher instincts to pounce on Danny Ward’s hesitancy at the King PowerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Alexandre Lacazette has two goals in two matches so far this season so will be keen to continue his streak against the championsCredit: AP:Associated Press
A goal up going into injury time, it would have been easy for Nketiah to give up on the loose ball and allow the Welshman to gather.
Unfortunately for Nketiah, he is battling for the No9 spot with Alexandre Lacazette.
And the Frenchman has not done too much wrong so far this season.
He got the opening goal of the Premier League campaign at Fulham and backed it up by heading home in the Hammers victory.
Nketiah did get a run in the starting XI towards the back end of last season ahead of Lacazette, but failed to really take advantage – scoring just once after the restart.
So far, understandably while they are both finding the net, it looks as though Arteta may start his £52million man in the Premier League and give Nketiah the nod in the cups.
That makes perfect sense with the bombardment of fixtures on three fronts during a mad autumn calendar in this condensed season – however, Carabao Cup wins for Jurgen Klopp’s side over Lincoln and Arsenal in the next week could alter the Spaniard’s plans.
But if Arteta did mix things up and bring Nketiah in from the outset at Anfield in the league clash on Monday, the pressure would be on for the England Under-21 star to deliver.
And one thing is for certain, Alisson won’t be gifting him freebies like Ward did at the King Power tonight.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
