Ex-Hale End gem claims it’s ‘hard for fans’ to see the true ability of one Arsenal ace

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Former Arsenal starlet Zech Medley came through the academy with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

The defender made three first-team appearances for Arsenal under Unai Emery, but left permanently in the summer of 2021 after several loans away, and is now at Belgian side KV Oostende.

Medley featured alongside Saka and Smith Rowe at youth level, with the two players successfully making the jump to the first-team, whilst he also knew Eddie Nketiah from their time in the Chelsea Youth Academy as well.

The centre-back has now praised Nketiah, claiming that the striker can reach another level, despite not being too highly rated by sections of the Arsenal fanbase.

Zech Medley defends Eddie Nketiah amid Arsenal criticism

Speaking in an interview with VAVEL, Medley claimed that Nketiah’s brilliance at youth level shows that he still has the potential to improve even further.

“There are always good players, even Eddie has done really well and he can still push on and excel even more,” Medley claimed.

“I have always seen it in Eddie, and it is sometimes hard for fans to see because they won’t see what’s happening behind the scenes all the time. He has got these records from the younger age groups and was always scoring goals.

“It’s just amazing to see everyone on their own pathway and journey and wanting to play football, it’s what it’s all about.”

Eddie Nketiah has the potential to be a good goalscorer

Although Nketiah looks set to leave the club in the summer, he is a striker of good quality who could thrive elsewhere.

The 24-year-old is more of a poacher rather than a complete striker, who would be more suited to Mikel Arteta’s system, but in front of goal he is still one of the best attackers at the club.

He has nine goals and assists in 10 Premier League starts this season, and 38 goals in total for the club.

Nketiah is suited to attacking the six-yard box and snatching goals from crosses, and his performances were improving year on year, with an excellent start to this season before he fell down the pecking order.

The England International deserves to play more regularly, and as a remarkable scorer at youth level, with 27 goals in 39 games in the Premier League 2, and as England under-21s all-time top scorer ahead of Alan Shearer, it is clear that he has the potential to be a regular goalscorer for a counter-attacking Premier League side if he is the first-choice pick.