Eddie Nketiah sends warning to Tottenham as he makes feelings clear on Arsenal role

Eddie Nketiah made a significant impact in Arsenal’s commanding 5-0 victory over Sheffield United, securing his first Premier League hat-trick and further emphasizing Arsenal’s intentions of contending for the title. Reflecting on the win, manager Mikel Arteta praised Nketiah’s performance, sending a veiled message to rival club Tottenham about the resilience required for a sustained title challenge.‌ After spending 248 days at the top of the Premier League last season without securing the title, Arsenal was motivated to regain their standing in North London. With a five-goal triumph, including Nketiah’s first-ever Premier League hat-trick, Arsenal closed the gap between them and Spurs, who had only held the top position for a mere five minutes. The Gunners challenged Tottenham to prove their mettle by maintaining their lead for an extended period of eight months. ‌ “The Premier League is an exhausting competition,” cautioned Nketiah. “However, we aspire to be among the top contenders once again. Our goal is to keep pushing and remain at the forefront.” Despite concerns from Arsenal fans regarding the absence of Gabriel Jesus due to a hamstring injury and team captain Martin Odegaard nursing a lingering hip problem on the bench, their worries were unfounded. Sheffield United predictably crumbled, providing Nketiah with the perfect opportunity to establish himself as a reliable striker rather than just a replacement for Jesus. Nketiah, who recently received his first England cap after debuting against Australia, expressed his indifference towards the perceptions surrounding him. He stated, “My focus is solely on becoming the best player I can be and constantly improving. I am aware of my abilities and the level of performance I can achieve when my teammates trust and believe in me. That’s what matters most, while the rest is just background noise. Sometimes you receive recognition, sometimes you don’t. The key is to maintain consistency and strive for improvement every day.”‌ “I aim to earn the manager’s confidence, so that when I’m on the pitch, he knows he can rely on me. It’s all about cultivating good habits and pushing myself in every aspect of the game, whether it’s goal-scoring, defending, making runs, pressing, or sacrificing myself for the team. The more I play, the more experiences I accumulate. I learn from both failures and successes, ensuring that I rectify any mistakes in future matches. Regular playing time has enabled me to progress and develop my skills,” Nketiah added. ‌ Despite missing out on a chance to join the likes of Thierry Henry and Andrey Arshavin as an Arsenal player who has scored four goals in a Premier League game, Nketiah displayed his selflessness by conceding a penalty to Fabio Vieira, who converted successfully. Another substitute, Takehiro Tomiyasu, contributed to Arsenal’s dominant performance by scoring in stoppage time. Nketiah admitted his initial desire to take the penalty himself but relinquished the opportunity to Vieira, respecting his request and celebrating his memorable moment. “As a team player, I was willing to allow others to get involved in the scoring action, especially after scoring a hat-trick. Fabio approached me, expressed his desire to take the penalty, and he was the one who earned it. Moreover, he has a significant personal milestone on the horizon, so it was a perfect opportunity for him to get on the scoresheet and dedicate it to his impending arrival. We’re delighted that he scored,” Nketiah explained. ‌ Stay up-to-date with all the thrilling matches of the 2023/2024 Premier League season. With access to 500 live games and coverage of Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL, and the NBA through eight dedicated channels, Sky Sports is your ultimate source for all the sporting action. Subscribe now to Sky Sports for just £22 per month. Sky One point out of a possible 30 is hardly the foundation for survival, and Sheffield United appears doomed this season. Losing their top two players, Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye, just a week before the start of the season, makes it unsurprising that they find themselves in a dire situation. Their attacking capabilities are as ineffective as a pair of rusty garden shears. In a similar vein, three years ago under the leadership of Chris Wilder, Sheffield United experienced an identical start, never managing to recover.‌ The writing on the wall is not just visible but also bold and conspicuous, akin to ugly graffiti plastered across every subway wall. Join our exclusive WhatsApp community to receive daily updates of Mirror Football content. As a member, you’ll also gain access to special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you choose to leave the community, you can do so at any time. In case you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

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Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.