Edward Keddar Nketiah is an English professional footballer that currently plays as a forward for Arsenal London. At only 18 years-old, he managed to score in what was his first kick ever in Arsenal’s jersey and helped the gunners win their cup contest against Norwich.
He made his debut with Arsenal in the Europa league against Bate Borisov, replacing Joe Willock in the 72nd minute in what was a great 4-2 victory for the gunners. If you’re interested in learning more about this 18-years-old striker that may just be the future for Arsenal’s attack, keep reading this article.
Started Football at Chelsea
Eddie first got into the world of professional football at Chelsea, the life-long London rivals of Arsenal. He progressed through Chelsea’s ranks step by step and everything seemed to work out just fine for the youngster, however, in 2015 he was told that he won’t continue his career there. This was the cue for Arsenal that immediately invited Eddie for a trial and only a week later he was signed by them on scholarship forms.
Climbing the Ladder
Now playing for the team he was a fan of ever since he was a little kid, Nketiah started to climb the ladder and after a short period, he earned his spot in the U18 Arsenal team. His talent was quickly catching the eye of Arsenal bosses and the fact that he started to score in almost every game also helped his ascension towards the first team. His stats were remarkable for the U18 team, Eddie scoring 24 goals in the 28 matches he played for the Gunners.
His impressive form during the U18 season made him the perfect candidate for the jump to the U23 for the 2016-217 campaign. Again, he kept his form and scored more than 20 goals, a performance that won him a spot in the team that went to play for the pre-season tour in Australia and China. There Eddie made his appearance in matches against Sydney FC, Bayern Munchen or even his former team, Chelsea.
It was only natural that, after such a good run in his first years with Arsenal, Eddie was rewarded with his first professional contract that he signed in September 2016. As if it wasn’t already very clear, this is the moment when he officially committed to Arsenal on long-term. Totally aware of the importance of signing this contract, Nketiah declared that he signed it by working hard and always trying to improve. He also said that he’ll keep doing the same thing since the goal is to become a regular in the first team and really make an impact on Arsenal’s play.
What Does the Future Hold?
Since he is already training with the first team on a regular basis, the questions about his future at the club are just a natural follow-up. Having already scored two goals for Arsenal’s main team after coming from the bench, Eddie seems like the perfect solution for Wenger in times of need. But even so, the club must surely have a well-devised plan for his future since you can’t just let a diamond like that fade away.
The usual approach in situations like this one is to keep playing him in the first team as a substitute and, when the time comes, going for a loan so that he can gather more minutes in the first eleven of another Premier League team. This seems like the best move for Arsenal in the development of what could be their next big star, Eddie Nketiah.
Support from Thierry Henry
Even former Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry is totally ready to make a bet regarding the strength and future of Eddie Nketiah. The Frenchman that worked with Eddie at the U18 team had enough time to observe the development and sheer talent of the youngster and stated that he is certain Nketiah will be able to score goals even when he will turn 60. Henry continued the praises towards the youngster and said that Eddie is a great kid with awesome skills. He was always on time, hard-working and always eager to learn and improve.
When you get so much praise from a player like Henry, you really must be doing something right. And if you thought that’s already a lot of recognition, you might want to wait and hear what else the Frenchman had to say about Eddie. In an interview he said that even though Nketiah isn’t a fancy player, he is very efficient and lethal in front of goal and it just seems that every time he gets on the field, he will definitely score.
So, it seems that the world of football just got another rising star in the person of Eddie Nketiah and only time will tell what his mark on international football will be. Either if Arsenal decides to give him a shot in the first team or decides to continue with a loan to another Premier League team where the youngster can gain some more experience, one thing is certain: we are witnessing the birth of what can be the biggest star of English football. It’s only up to him to stay focused and avoid being pulled-aside by all the media attention he is now receiving.
This brilliant article was written by Alex Norwood, a huge football faN
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