EDDIE’S A BIG DEAL NOW
Nketiah’s walking tall after dream home debut
THERE’S little doubt that Eddie Nketiah will still be walking tall today after his Carabao Cup heroics for Arsenal.
It’s almost ironic then, that the teenage striker, who was Arsenal’s two-goal hero against Norwich on Tuesday, was released by Chelsea in 2015 for being too small.
Two years on, Nketiah is still just 5ft 8in. But after his late match-winning cameo, he will have a huge spring in his step as he sizes up his next opportunity.
It’s likely he will be brought back down to earth, though, by turning out for Arsenal’s Under-23s against Chelsea’s second string on Saturday in front of a few hundred spectators.
Tuesday wasn’t the first glimpse of Nketiah, who came off the substitutes’ bench but barely got a touch in last month’s debut against BATE Borisov.
The 18-year-old was introduced late on by Arsene Wenger to wind down the clock and see out the Europa League win. Against Norwich he had a different mission – he was sent on to keep Arsenal in the League Cup.
Just 15 seconds later he had scored with his first touch in the 85th minute before rising to head home in extra-time to seal a 2-1 win and mark a dream home debut.
Arsenal fans chanted ‘Eddie, Eddie, Eddie’ at their new star.
“I’m very thankful to the boss for giving me that opportunity to come on and show what I can do,” said Nketiah, the first player born since Wenger took over in 1996 to score for the club.
“I’m really happy the fans welcomed me like that and to hear your name at such a young age is a dream come true.
“I came on with full focus to help the team win. I believe in myself and I believe that I can always get goals so I just tried to get goalscoring opportunities.
“Thankfully they went in and hopefully they are the first of many.
“I watched the likes of Thierry Henry a lot and I used to work with him a bit on and off the pitch. To emulate what he did would be a dream come true.”
Whether Nketiah, who has scored 48 goals in two seasons at youth level, will be a one-hit wonder or a long-term favourite like Henry remains to be seen.
Arsenal are widely mocked for losing a young Harry Kane to Tottenham.
Now Wenger will be hoping that another rival club will be left kicking themselves for doing the same with Nketiah. THE Arsenal Supporters’ Trust will vote against the re-appointment of chairman Sir Chips Keswick and Josh Kroenke to the board of directors at today’s annual general meeting.