STEADY EDDIE!
Nketiah shows striker’s instinct to keep Arteta rolling on
IT has been 27 years since Arsenal won this tournament which has been a showpiece for their next generation, though the young ones look more like winners now.
Last year they succumbed on penalties after a 5- 5 draw at Anfield. But this side was more muscular, less vulnerable than that, and in possession of Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah — all a year older and more of an attacking threat.
Brendan Rodgers made wholesale changes. Eight of his 11 had not featured at all this season. But with Mikel Arteta intent on assigning the tournament more significance, this side could be the one to watch.
For Nelson, the first half demonstrated the brutally slim margins between glory and obscurity in football. Arteta has done nothing to dispel the suggestion that the 20-year- old, who burst onto the scene in Arsene Wenger’s final season, might be sold and, after 45 minutes which felt like him proving a point, two chances to score came and went.
The first, blocked by Danny Ward, was acceptable. The second, screwed wide from space in the box, may haunt him in the weeks to come, though his endeavour and imagination deserved better fortune. Nelson operated across the full face of Leicester’s box, socks around his calves, and drew a superb fingertip save from Ward in the game’s fifth minute.
He was a creator too, though somehow Nicolas Pepe and Nketiah couldn’t latch onto the ball he measured across the six-yard box. This profligacy was frustrating for Arteta, though it was a half full of promise for Arsenal’s hopes that the academy will provide a face for the future.
Saka picked up where he had left off in his sparkling Community Shield performance against Liverpool, making life difficult for Marc Albrighton. The 19-year-old had a good penalty call turned down.
Leicester were on the back foot in that half. But James Maddison, back after three months out with a hip injury, revealed the difference between potential and pedigree. He’d been the creative fulcrum for Leicester when, five minutes before the interval, he manoeuvred his way into space, ran at five defenders and arced a shot from the left-hand side of the penalty area which struck the post.
The individual struggling to make any impact was one Arsenal had far greater hopes of a year back. A song about the then new £72million record signing Pepe — ‘super Nicky Pepe’ — was ringing out from the St James’ Park away end from the minute he began his career at the club as a 70th-minute substitute. But he has struggled to make any kind of headway, with just five league goals in 22 games.
It was more desperation than inspiration which saw him help break the deadlock, three minutes before the hour mark. Saka stole possession from Christian Fuchs and located the Frenchman who accelerated past Luke Thomas and into the box. His shot was pummelled away by Ward but Pepe struck the rebound which cannoned in off the unfortunate Fuchs. Wes Morgan was slow to respond to the threat.
Arsenal almost extended their lead when Nketiah’s brilliant lob was headed off the line by Morgan. And though Leicester should have equalised when Ayoze Perez headed Albrighton’s free- kick wide, Arsenal sealed their progress at the death when substitute Hector Bellerin powered into the box and found Nketiah, who scrambled the ball home.
Nketiah beamed and Arteta punched the night air. More signs that he is leading this club to more promising ground.