Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah hails “mature” Lacazette for helping him improve

The Arsenal youngster has had a fine return to the Emirates Stadium…

Arsenal have had a rollercoaster of a season but one thing that has remained constant is the hard work and determination of their young players. From Gabriel Martinelli to Bukayo Saka, many of their better performers have been of a young age.

One player that was late to the party this season was Eddie Nketiah. The English forward spent the first half of the season on loan at Leeds United but Mikel Arteta recently called the youngster back to the Emirates Stadium.

Since his return to first-team football for the Gunners, Nketiah has been in fine form. He scored against Bournemouth in his first start of the season for Arsenal, while also getting on the score sheet recently against Everton.

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He has proved to be a player that remains calm in front of goal and he likes to get into the right positions to receive the low-cross. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Of course, Nketiah is a player that is very much in the mould of fellow-Arsenal attacker Alexandre Lacazette. This is why he fits the system as well as he does.

Lacazette has missed some game time lately. Despite getting on the score sheet on two consecutive occasions, he did not feature against Everton. Instead, Nketiah took his spot.

However, Nketiah has been quick to reassure fans. According to a report from Goal, Nketiah claimed there are “no hostilities” between him and Lacazette and in fact, it is the Frenchman who he thanks for helping him nurture into an Arsenal player.

This is positive news for Arsenal fans. The club prides themselves on the promotion of youth into the first team so to see that the senior players embrace this only adds to the positive feel around the club.

Arsenal’s next match is this Thursday against Olympiacos. As Lacazette gave the club a comfortable away-goal cushion, he will feel excited and raring to go again. Receiving this accolade from the young Nketiah will only inspire him to keep winning the hearts of the Arsenal fans, and Mikel Arteta, both of which have instilled a lot of trust into the French striker.

What do you make of Eddie Nketiah’s return to Arsenal so far?