Daniel Matthews: Eddie Nketiah is responding with Arsenal ‘in an exceptional way’

The final whistle blew, Eddie Nketiah fell on his back, and the stadium DJ pressed play. First on your post-game playlist? Rocking all over the world.

It’s become a firm favorite in these venues, ever since fans modified the lyrics to honor a pair of academy graduates: Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

However, before this performance was finished, many here had begun to drown out the music with an ode to another of their own.

‘Eddie, Eddie, Eddie’, they chanted from the stands. And on the touchline, where Arsenal’s shitty contingent waited to continue the celebrations.

Among them? Gabriel Jesus, who wore a wide smile and hugged Nketiah as he headed into the tunnel.

To think there were serious fears that the Brazilian’s knee injury, sustained during the World Cup, could ruin Arsenal’s season.

Six games later, Mikel Arteta’s team continues to run up against the psychological barriers that threaten to make a dent in their aspirations for the title.

This was another great result and another great day for Nketiah. Perhaps the best of him so far in an Arsenal shirt.

“Losing Gabi was a big blow. It’s a big hit. But Eddie is responding with the team in an exceptional way,” said Arteta.

He is a special boy. He is very loved by everyone in the soccer club. He has a true Arsenal heart and that is very special. You can’t put that in numbers, but he is very, very good.

Only two Arsenal players have scored last-minute winning goals against Manchester United in the Premier League: Thierry Henry and now Arsenal’s new number 14.

It was an instinctive move and the striker’s second in a hectic afternoon. Earlier, with Arsenal trailing 1-0, he got past Aaron Wan-Bissaka to head home.

It means that Nketiah’s recent record now reads: seven goals in seven games. Thirteen goals in his last 13 starts at the Emirates.

He is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with nine (having started just 13 games) and since the World Cup, the 23-year-old has scored four goals in five Premier League games.

Marcus Rashford is the only English striker with more (five) and is currently the deadliest striker in Europe.

Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins: they’ve all followed Nketiah in recent weeks.

Penny for the thoughts, then, of Gareth Southgate, who was looking at the Emirates.

Since Nketiah became the top scorer for the England under-21 team, his path to the first team has been blocked.

In truth, the 23-year-old hasn’t played long enough to break into Southgate’s mind. Instead, Ghana has been trying to persuade him to seek other avenues.

But Monday marks two months until the next England international and if Nketiah continues like this, it’s hard to see how Southgate won’t pick up the phone.

It is not a phrase that many would have predicted before Christmas. Even Arteta.

‘What Eddie is doing is incredible. I can’t say we saw that (coming)’, the manager admitted.

“We expected him to be able to do that because of the way he is, his mentality and how his qualities fit into the team.”

All he needed was a chance. At the end of last season, Nketiah enjoyed a series of games that earned him a new long-term contract.

Since then, many have wondered why he bothered to sign it. After all, the arrival of Gabriel Jesus sent him to the periphery once again.

But Arteta never doubted its importance. Why? The qualities that he has, how much he loves him, how much he believes he has to be Arsenal’s number 9, his desire, his career. We are with him every day.

Against United, sandwiched between the experienced pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martínez, chances were never going to come easily. No Arsenal opener touched the ball less frequently than Nketiah yesterday. Except Ben White, who got hooked after 45 minutes.

But even so, the forward won three golden occasions. The first took it out, the second forced a fine save from David De Gea. The third sent this wacky place.

“You could see how much we wanted to win for ourselves and our fans,” said the striker. ‘When you have guys like (Saka) around you, the chances are going to drop… I kept going and I knew that if I was close and alert, with the way we played we would have chances. Fortunately I was able to take it.

His desire to return, having missed that last chance, is a testament to Nketiah’s mental strength.

“He’s going to miss more opportunities this season,” added Arteta. ‘I guarantee that the next one will try to do that again. He is not going to hide.

Arsenal will still have to manage without Jesus for some time. In this form, however, how can Nketiah be left out?