Arsenal verdict: Eddie Nketiah must start against Burnley in Premier League if Mikel Arteta wants to stay in his job

EDDIE NKETIAH proved he is the man to lead Arsenal’s charge back up the Premier League table with a goal in Thursday’s 4-2 win at Dundalk.

The Gunners have struggled to put the ball in the back of the net this term, scoring just ten goals in the Prem – the fourth-lowest effort in the top flight.

Mikel Arteta must start Eddie Nketiah in the Premier League if he wants to save his Arsenal jobCredit: AFP or licensors

While captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks to have lost his magic touch, scoring just ONCE from open play this season.

The Europa League, however, has been a different matter entirely.

With Nketiah leading the line, the Gunners have netted 20 goals in their 100 per cent Group B campaign.

And, with reports suggesting Mikel Arteta is facing the chop if he fails to pick up points in games against Burnley, Southampton and Everton, the time may have come for a change up top domestically.

Step forward 21-year-old Nketiah, who is now Arsenal’s top scorer this term with five strikes.

He needed just 12 minutes to fire the Gunners ahead in Ireland – and who is to say he could not do the same against the Clarets at the Emirates on Sunday?

Nketiah is showing he’s good for at least one goal in any game he starts.

And with Arsenal really finding it hard to do just that, he must surely get a go through the middle now.

Whether that means dropping Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette or Willian is up to Arteta.

But the Gunners need to have a central forward capable of putting the ball away regularly if they want to salvage something from this campaign.

Indeed, Nketiah is now the England U21 top goalscorer of all time, moving ahead of the legendary Alan Shearer.

And it is also important for his development that he get more minutes for his club.

Arsenal can’t be picky right now and need to go with the best option up front.

Wages and reputation can no longer be a factor, and the best option right now is clearly Nketiah.

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk