Mikel Arteta waxed lyrical about Eddie Nketiah in the wake of Arsenal's crucial home win over Jesse Marsch's Leeds.
Arsenal raced into an early lead thanks to a brace from former Leeds loanee Nketiah who put the Gunners in front just five minutes in when he closed down Ilian Meslier and forced the opener. The second came minutes later when the England Under-21 star was set up by Gabriel Martinelli before making no mistake from around 12 yards out.
After the game, the Arsenal boss heaped praise on his side's matchwinner. “Well he is doing what he has done all season, when he’s been sitting on the bench or sat at home – this boy doesn’t change that’s why we adore him, "Arteta explained. "Now, he has the right empowerment and the right personnel around him and he can be judged for what he does on the pitch."
Nketiah himself said after the game: "It's amazing [to win], it's always nice to score, it was a big three points. We've been working hard, and it's amazing to get the three points and take us closer to our objectives."
Asked on his own re-emergence in the side, he replied: "I've worked hard throughout the season so I was ready to take my chance. Credit to my team-mates for helping me do well, I'm just happy to be in the team and helping the team."
Things went from good to great from a Gunners perspective shortly after the second when Leeds skipper Luke Ayling was sent off for a hideous two-footed lunge on Martinelli near the corner flag. Referee Chris Kavanagh initially brandished a yellow card before VAR intervened and the official overturned his original decision.
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Chances either side of half-time were spurned by Arsenal, with the likes of Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all failing to find then net with their efforts. Tension suddenly filled the air at the Emirates just after the hour mark, when Fernando Llorente pulled one back for the visitors.
Leeds' goal ended Arsenal's impressive run of not having conceded from a corner this season, Llorente finishing beyond Aaron Ramsdale who up until that point had been a spectator. It initially appeared to stun the hosts who let the next few minutes pass them by without creating any meaningful chances.
Saka and Martinelli were both hooked with around 20 minutes left to play which is likely due to the fact Arteta has one eye on Thursday night's huge North London Derby. The entirety of the home faithful held their breath when Rodrigo had the chance to equalise in second-half stoppage time.
The result ensures that Arsenal are now potentially one win away from sealing their place in the Champions League next season. Should the Gunners go to the home of their arch-rivals on Thursday and win, they will have ended Spurs hopes of playing in European club football's elite competition next season.
Four points now separate Arsenal from their North London neighbours, who can ensure the race goes down to the final two games of the season if they were to win when Arteta's team arrive in mid-week. If Arteta can secure what would be a memorable win, it would end Arsenal's six-year hiatus from the Champions League.
Nketiah added: "We're just taking it day by day. A win today has put us in a good position ahead of Spurs, hopefully we can go there and get three points."
