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Mikel Arteta is backing Eddie Nketiah to fill Gabriel Jesus’ attacking void, with the striker ruled out for up to three months as the Gunners boss says he has “more faith in him every day”.
- Eddie Nketiah likely to start against West Ham with Gabriel Jesus injured
- 23-year-old boss Mikel Arteta says he has ‘more faith in him every day’
- He signed a new five-year deal in the summer after scoring five in his last seven.
- With Jesus facing up to three months out after surgery, Nketiah could step up.
Eddie Nketiah is ready to fill the gap in Arsenal’s attack, according to Mikel Arteta, who claims to have more faith in the striker ‘every day’.
Nketiah is set to lead the line when the league leaders resume their title run against West Ham, with Gabriel Jesus facing up to three months out after knee surgery.
‘(I have) more faith in him every day. We see every day what he brings to the team, what he is like as a human being and how he is developing as a player,” said Arteta.
Eddie Nketiah is ready to fill the gap in Arsenal’s attack, according to boss Mikel Arteta
Nketiah can step up with Gabriel Jesus facing up to three months out after undergoing knee surgery
Nketiah, 23, signed a new five-year contract in the summer after scoring five goals in the last seven games of last season.
The arrival of Jesus, who has transformed Arsenal’s attack, has limited Nketiah’s options this season, but Arteta said: ‘We had a great response last year when we needed it…he’s ready. That’s why he signed his contract. He is a key player in our squad.’
The coach has raised the possibility of using Gabriel Martinelli in the middle and wants to add reinforcements in attack.
Arteta claims to have more faith in Nketiah, who signed a five-year contract in the summer, ‘every day’
Arsenal are in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, with Arteta hoping to secure new signings in early January.
But even after stripping his roster bare around this time last year, Arteta insists: “We don’t need a body, we need players to make the team better.”
He explained: ‘We can get a striker, I can guarantee it. But what we can’t afford to do is bring a player here who is not for us.”
Boxing Day marks three years since Arteta’s first game in charge, a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
He has taken them to the top of the Premier League but he insists: ‘There is still a lot to do. The most difficult thing is to win. And once you’ve won, win again and again.