Arsenal finished the summer transfer window with just Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as the main forward options going into the season. A lot of pressure was placed on both, with the heavy fixture schedule due to the Gunners returning to the Europa League.
Nketiah scored four goals in four games towards the back end of last season and started to show how crucial he was to the team. The Gunners were in poor form before he was given the chance to lead the line for Arsenal, but Nketiah’s impact on the side helped the north London side find form at an important time.
The Englishman has struggled to replicate this form into the new campaign, but it could be argued that it’s been down to his lack of domestic minutes, with the forward yet to start in the Premier League. Despite this, Nketiah has touched on the importance on European football and the impact Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski has had on his game.
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Nketiah has started every Europa League game for Arsenal this season, where he scored one goal. His presence helped the team to top their group.
With Arsenal one of the favourites to win the competition, Nketiah spoke on the importance of being successful in Europe via Arsenal.com: “Definitely, that’s a big motivation for us this season,” he said.
“We want to bring back European success here. Of course, we can only look at the next step, but definitely our aim is to win the trophy this year. We have the quality and the players to do so, and we’re working hard every day to achieve that.”
Nketiah is Arsenal’s second-choice forward. New signing Gabriel Jesus has taken the reigns as the Gunners' starting striker following his £45million move from Manchester City in the summer.
Despite Nketiah not being the first-choice, it is still a major feat for the youngster to stamp his marker on the squad, as he has become the first Hale-End academy striker to become an integral part of the first team in this decade. The Englishman spoke on the impact of Messi and Lewandowski, which helped him to progress.
The 23-year-old said: “As a forward I’ve grown up watching players like Messi, Neymar, now Mbappe and Lewandowski – there’s loads.
"Messi is the one who always stood out when I was younger. He set the standard and he is still inspiring people now.”
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