Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that striker Eddie Nketiah proved “how wrong he was” with his performance against Chelsea on Wednesday night. It comes after the 22-year-old scored a brace in the game to hand the Gunners all three points.
It proved to be a hectic night at Stamford Bridge, with Nketiah taking the first blow, pouncing on a mistake from Andreas Christensen to slot the ball past Edouard Mendy. The two sides then kept swinging back and forth as Timo Werner and Cesar Azpilicueta ’s goals either side of Emile Smith Rowe ’s strike took the two in level at half-time.
The second half was much more in favour of the visitors though as Nketiah sniffed out another chance, with Bukayo Saka ’s late penalty dealing the finishing blow. The manager claimed after the game that it was a mentally demanding period for his side: “It was mentally really demanding, because everything that we’ve been through in the last few weeks, for most of those players it’s the first time they’ve been through that.
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“Sometimes we forget about that. For some of them it’s the first time they’re playing in the Premier League and the demands and the response for that is huge. After that to still go through the moments and emotions of the game, they showed a real maturity, composure and quality to match what they [Chelsea] were doing because they are a top, top side and their manager is very, very good.”
Nketiah is one of the players to impress the most in the game, having scored an important brace while filling the shoes of Alexandre Lacazette. The England youth international has seen very few minutes in the league this season, with the Carabao cup being his competition of choice this season with five goals in five appearances.
However, last night’s double was his first of the season and gave him a chance to show what he could do when given the opportunity. This led to Arteta after the game claim that he was proven “wrong” by the forward.
The Spaniard said: “If there is one player that I have been unfair with I think it’s him [Nketiah]. He has given me every right to do something different, and if Eddie doesn’t play more, it’s my fault and because as a manager I missed something or I haven’t had the courage to play him more. Today he showed me more how wrong I was.”
The double in such an important game could give the striker the launch pad he needs to continue scoring goals. While it may have taken a while for him to get a breakthrough, he has every opportunity to take that into the games going forward.
