Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah missed an opportunity to deliver a statement performance against Everton.
Mikel Arteta gave Eddie Nketiah the nod in his starting XI ahead of Gabriel Jesus when Arsenal travelled to Goodison Park on Sunday.
However, the 24-year-old struggled to impose himself on the match. According to WhoScored’s statistics, he managed just 10 touches, one shot off target, and a pass completion rate of just 71.4%. He also failed to make a single tackle or interception, despite being a part of the Gunners’ pressing unit.
His movement in the box also wasn’t as sharp as was required. On a couple of occasions, when a teammate played a cutback into a dangerous area in the Everton box, Nketiah had failed to get himself ahead of the Everton centre-back he was battling with and was beaten to the ball.
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Nketiah has impressed at times this season. He already has two goals under his belt, and was recently rewarded with his first call up to the England senior squad. However, with Jesus now back to full fitness, he needs to maintain a high level to keep his place in the starting XI, and he failed to do that against Everton.
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Gabriel Jesus shows he still has edge over Eddie Nketiah
Arteta hooked the Hale End academy graduate off in the 66th minute in order to get Jesus onto the pitch. Arsenal immediately looked better with the Brazilian on the field, and scored just a few minutes after his introduction.
Jesus brings more drive to how the Gunners play, and is more comfortable dropping deep to involve himself in build up play. Nketiah still needs to develop his game further in these areas.
Arsenal have shown faith in Nketiah, handing the No. 14 a new long-term contract last summer. In order to truly make himself a key figure at the Emirates Stadium, though, the £100,000-a-week forward must consistently contribute more than he was able to against Everton.