There was understandable concern at Arsenal following the knee injury and subsequent surgery that is set to keep Gabriel Jesus out for some time. However Eddie Nketiah, Jesus' replacement, was able to stifle those concerns with a goal in his first Premier League start. Nketiah began his mission of filling the void left by Jesus with a superb goal on the half-turn that sealed Arsenal's Boxing Day win.
Despite concerns the 23-year-old would not be able to match the output of Jesus, Mikel Arteta was always confident in the man who he awarded with a new five-year contract in the summer. "We have more faith in Eddie every single day," Arteta told reporters ahead of the clash with West Ham.
"We see every day what he brings to the team, what he is as a human being and the way he is developing as a player. We got a great response last year when we needed him and he did really well for the team. He is ready. That is why he signed his contract. He is a key player in our squad and he is going to have chances to play."
