Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta may have inadvertently revealed that Eddie Nketiah will start over Alexandre Lacazette against West Ham United.
Nketiah has started in each of the last three matches, playing during the 1-0 loss against Southampton before enjoying back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Manchester United, netting a brace against the Blues in the process. However, French centre-forward Alexandre Lacazette is now back to full fitness, leaving fans unsure of who will start up front against West Ham on Sunday afternoon.
Lacazette has been the club's chief penalty taker ever since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left for Barcelona back in January but Bukayo Saka stepped up to take spot-kicks against the Blues and United in the former Lyon frontman's absence. Now, Arteta has revealed that Saka will take the next penalty the Gunners are awarded, perhaps hinting that Nketiah will continue to be started ahead of Lacazette in the coming weeks.
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When asked if the England international was now the club's chief penalty taker, the Spaniard said: "Well, tomorrow if someone has to take a penalty, he will take it. Again, but it happened quite naturally in the Chelsea game, he took it and the next game we had another one and hopefully he can continue to put the ball in the back of the net."
Saka has now netted 11 goals and five assists during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign and the Hale End academy graduate will be desperate to continue his fine form against David Moyes' side this weekend. The Gunners currently sit just two points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who they will play in a highly-anticipated North London Derby next month.
