Arsenal drew 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven in their final Champions League group-stage game earlier this week, and striker Eddie Nketiah was back on the scoresheet.
Although he is Arsenal’s top scorer in the league this season, Nketiah had not found the back of the net since scoring a hattrick against Sheffield United in October.
He was back in the starting lineup as Mikel Arteta rotated his squad, and he produced a fantastic finish from Reiss Nelson’s assist.
Captain Martin Odegaard has now praised the 24-year-old, and highlighted his qualities inside the box.
Martin Odegaard praises Eddie Nketiah
Writing in his programme notes ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, Odegaard highlighted Nketiah’s quality in front of goal.
“I was so pleased for Eddie to get his goal, it was a brilliant finish and some good work from Cedric and Reiss in the build-up too,” Odegaard stated.
“Eddie will take more confidence from his goal, he’s always dangerous in those positions, and the other players coming in showed their qualities too. It’s very promising for the competition in the squad.”
Eddie Nketiah is useful to Mikel Arteta
Nketiah often comes in for criticism, with Arsenal also linked with a January move for strikers Dominic Solanke and Ivan Toney, but he is a very useful member of the squad for Mikel Arteta.
The striker is a good professional, and has readily stepped in to replace Gabriel Jesus whenever the Brazilian has been injured.
Jesus came back from the World Cup with a long-term injury last year, and Nketiah kept Arsenal at the top of the Premier League until he returned.
With six goals and three assists in 12 starts across all competitions, his output has been fairly strong, and this could continue to increase if given more chances during the rest of the campaign.
Jesus is Arsenal’s undisputed first-choice option because of the extra quality he brings outside of the box, but Nketiah is a useful substitute as he adds extra threat inside the penalty area.
He was called up to the senior England squad for the first time after a bright start this season, but has found himself out of the starting lineup in recent months after Jesus returned from injury, and with the Brazilian performing well, he will find it tough to break back into the XI.
His goal against PSV could give him another confidence boost, and if he is brought on against Brighton or Liverpool in the next two games, he will hope to find the back of the net again.
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