Hard man Bielsa helped me soar
Nketiah is thankful for loan despite few starts
EDDIE NKETIAH says he is a better player thanks to his loan spell at Leeds – despite starting only two Championship games.
And the Arsenal striker said he was 50-50 about going out on loan again last month before Gunners boss Mikel Arteta decided to give him his firstteam chance at the Emirates.
The former England youth international scored Arsenal’s first goal in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Everton – his second goal in only his second Premier League start.
He scored five times for Leeds – including four in his first six games – before his January recall due to his lack of game-time under Elland Road head coach Marcelo Bielsa.
But Nketiah, 20, said: “My Leeds experience was good for me. I learnt as a player.
“I might not have played as much as I wanted but I had good moments there when I went on and played.
“If you check my goal-to-minutes ratio it’s quite good but obviously it’s just how things are. It’s a very good environment to be in, he’s a very demanding coach and I learnt a lot.
“You have to learn about yourself and take each opportunity as it comes. I’m here playing at Arsenal, which is a dream.”
The striker nearly went back on loan to Bristol City last month before Arteta’s change of heart.
Nketiah said: “He was a bit 50-50 on letting me go anyway and I was 50-50 as well.
“He likes my mentality obviously the quality I have, I try to showcase that. I’m a very and religious person and I know my time will come.
“So it is just about treating each day as it comes, not letting your head get down if you don’t get minutes and proving each day that you deserve to play and work hard
FIRING GUNNER: Eddie Nketiah nets against Everton for the chance so when you get it you can take it.”
Nketiah celebrated his goal on Sunday with his now trademark phone call goal celebration. He says the Arsenal media team came up with the phrase, ‘Call me if pre-season.
“I have just stuck with it,” he said. “A lot of my friends like it so they are eager for me to dial them up if I get on the scoresheet so I try to enjoy each goal, whether that is youth level, in the park, anywhere – it is always a blessing to score.” you need
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