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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah has already made vow ‘to fight and compete’ for starting role

Eddie Nketiah has already given his verdict on the idea of battling Gabriel Jesus for a starting berth at Arsenal.

The Brazilian completed a £45million move to the Emirates Stadium on Monday, signing a five-year deal in north London.

A four-time Premier League winner with Manchester City and a regular within the Brazil international set-up, Jesus was manager Mikel Arteta’s leading attacking target this summer.

Handed the No9 shirt vacated by Alexandre Lacazette, it seems reasonable to assume the 25-year-old will be taking up the mantle of Arsenal’s main centre-forward next season.

While Jesus is capable of playing out wide, he will surely battle Eddie Nketiah for a starting role through the middle of Arsenal’s attack, with Arteta boasting Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli as wing options.

Academy graduate Nketiah recently signed a long-term contract himself after a prolific end to the season and has vowed to “relish” the challenge of competing with a new recruit.

Earlier this month, the 23-year-old told The Telegraph: “Every team needs a squad to compete.

“The club is always looking for ways to strengthen. They have extended my deal and they have done so for a reason. Whoever comes in, you relish the challenge. You make them feel welcome, and then you fight and compete.

“That is just my mentality, my personality. I know I am not the finished article, and I don’t need to be the finished article right now. I have time to improve and to make mistakes. But I do have belief in myself that if I am given a run, and I play the games, I can deliver.

"I know I still have so much more to give and so much more to do.”

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