Mikel Arteta felt Eddie Nketiah’s performances in training warned that he ‘must be blind’ not to play the striker, as he opened the scoring in Saturday’s victory over Nottingham Forest.
Nketiah’s strike, assisted off Gabriel Martinelli’s Cruyff turn, followed the striker being dropped for the Gunners’ Community Shield triumph against Manchester City. That was despite Gabriel Jesus’ injury.
But Arteta was left effusive about the ‘role model’ player, who added to his Emirates Cup goal against Monaco.
‘I’m delighted for him because he is a role model,’ said Arteta.