‘He was slow’: Alan Shearer says Arsenal player who started v Everton
Alan Shearer says Eddie Nketiah isn’t an ‘elite’ striker after he failed to take his chance during Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park.
The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer thinks ‘those questions are still going to be asked’ until Eddie Nketiah gets to the next level for Arsenal, as he told Premier League Productions (17/09/23 at 6:50 pm).
The 24-year-old isn’t Mikel Arteta’s first-choice striker, that’s Gabriel Jesus. But he is still returning to full fitness, hence why Eddie Nketiah is starting so much.
But despite those extra minutes, he still hasn’t been able to make it count and you would imagine Gabriel Jesus will be starting sooner rather than later.
Arsenal’s Hale-End star has two goals this season, once whilst starting, but he hasn’t been able to find the back of the net during his last three starts.
That’s why Shearer, who scored 260 goals in the Premier League, is asking questions about the Englishman.
Questions over Eddie Nketiah
“We will continue to have discussions to say ‘is he elite? And the top-draw striker that Arsenal need to go to that next level?’” asked Shearer.
“We will keep on asking those questions because it’s important that when he gets the opportunity like he has done, then he has to take those opportunities.
“I just thought there were two or three occasions against Everton, one being the disallowed goal. There were a couple in that second half where I was thinking ‘come on. Get on the end of it and into the six-yard box and that little tap-in, like all great strikers do’. It was just a split second where he was slow.
“Until he does that, then those questions are still going to be asked.”
Wrexham v Sheffield United: Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Eddie Nketiah needs to prove his worth
The Hale-End star, who recently earned a call-up for England, needs to use this as fuel to go to the next level because he will have the chance to do so.
If Nketiah can’t get it going in the Premier League, then perhaps he will find the magic in the Champions League.
If you start scoring at that level, then your name will be up in lights, that’s for sure. But he has to start producing the goods sooner or rather than later.
‘He was slow’: Alan Shearer says Arsenal player who started v Everton
Alan Shearer says Eddie Nketiah isn’t an ‘elite’ striker after he failed to take his chance during Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park.
The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer thinks ‘those questions are still going to be asked’ until Eddie Nketiah gets to the next level for Arsenal, as he told Premier League Productions (17/09/23 at 6:50 pm).
The 24-year-old isn’t Mikel Arteta’s first-choice striker, that’s Gabriel Jesus. But he is still returning to full fitness, hence why Eddie Nketiah is starting so much.
But despite those extra minutes, he still hasn’t been able to make it count and you would imagine Gabriel Jesus will be starting sooner rather than later.
Arsenal’s Hale-End star has two goals this season, once whilst starting, but he hasn’t been able to find the back of the net during his last three starts.
That’s why Shearer, who scored 260 goals in the Premier League, is asking questions about the Englishman.
Questions over Eddie Nketiah
“We will continue to have discussions to say ‘is he elite? And the top-draw striker that Arsenal need to go to that next level?’” asked Shearer.
“We will keep on asking those questions because it’s important that when he gets the opportunity like he has done, then he has to take those opportunities.
“I just thought there were two or three occasions against Everton, one being the disallowed goal. There were a couple in that second half where I was thinking ‘come on. Get on the end of it and into the six-yard box and that little tap-in, like all great strikers do’. It was just a split second where he was slow.
“Until he does that, then those questions are still going to be asked.”
Wrexham v Sheffield United: Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Eddie Nketiah needs to prove his worth
The Hale-End star, who recently earned a call-up for England, needs to use this as fuel to go to the next level because he will have the chance to do so.
If Nketiah can’t get it going in the Premier League, then perhaps he will find the magic in the Champions League.
If you start scoring at that level, then your name will be up in lights, that’s for sure. But he has to start producing the goods sooner or rather than later.