It's funny what 90 minutes of football can do to both a player's confidence and a supporter's opinion. I'll hold my hands up and admit that I was part of a large proportion of fans that weren't keen on Eddie Nketiah starting against Chelsea in midweek However, it's a decision that certainly paid off and one that has left me wanting more.
Despite calls for Gabriel Martinelli to start upfront, Mikel Arteta opted for Nketiah who had failed to score a Premier League goal all season, yet he finished the game with two goals to his name following a really encouraging display against the current European champions away from home. It left fans chanting 'Eddie, Eddie' and would have undoubtedly given the young forward a rejuvenated sense of hope that his Arsenal career can continue beyond this summer.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already gone and Alexandre Lacazette set to follow, Nketiah has the chance to prove a point between now and the end of the season. The visit of Manchester United presents another opportunity for him to make a statement and boost his side's Champions League hopes in the process.
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Considering what happened on Wednesday, I would be surprised if Nketiah doesn't start again today. He's finally gained some confidence in front of goal and will be eager to follow his performance up with another solid outing. If he can produce that, along with more goals, the England U21 international still has the chance to make it at the club.
I have never doubted Nketiah's finishing capabilities or movement inside the box, he knows how to score goals. But that's the problem, he only ever seems to come alive in the 18-yard box and that's where my frustration with him lies. I think it's why up until now at least, Arteta has favoured Lacazette despite him going through a bit of a goal drought of his own. As we know, the Frenchman works hard, can hold up the ball well and bring others around him into the game.
You get the sense that if Nketiah is able to add a bit more variety to his game, he can take things to another level. He has the potential. Despite this, It's pretty much a certainty that Arsenal will bring in a striker who will become the new main man up top and that's a reality which the 22-year-old would have to deal with.
Speaking on The Beautiful Game Podcast, Nketiah reiterated his hunger to become a success at the club but explained that regular minutes remain a priority.
"There have been offers of a new contract but at the moment my aim is to play football and play regularly. That's my ambition and that's what I hope to do but at the same time I'm at Arsenal, I love Arsenal," he said. "I'm just trying to focus on the season until May and make sure I finish that in a good way and then sit down and see what I think is the best opportunity to allow me to take those steps and develop."
The quotes led to his manager admitting that he'd been unfair to him. "I should have been playing him more," Arteta told BBC Sport after the Chelsea match. "What Eddie has done tonight is because of what he has done for the last 10 months and no one has noticed. We have other issues as well and that has not been easy. But he deserved completely what happened to him tonight," the Spaniard added.
Now, Nketiah has another glorious opportunity to ensure his name is ringing out around the Emirates amongst over 60,000 people. Who knows how that will influence his decision come the end of the season, but I suspect it could be a sign of things to come if he manages to find consistency before it concludes.
