Arsenal news: Eddie Nketiah says he's got so much stronger this season

By Milo Clay

Arsenal youngster Eddie Nketiah has told Sky Sports that he’s got so much stronger this season and Mikel Arteta made the same claim about the striker earlier this week. 

Nketiah has been in impressive form since the World Cup and he’s certainly making the most of his opportunity in the Arsenal side.

The 23-year-old had struggled for game time in the Premier League before Gabriel Jesus picked up a knee injury in Qatar. But the Arsenal academy product has now bagged five goals in as many games in the Brazilian’s absence. 

And it seems that he has been putting in extra work behind the scenes at London Colney to ensure he is ready for the physical aspect of Premier League football. 

Nketiah says he’s got so much stronger 

Nketiah spoke to Geoff Shreeves on Sky Sports as he looked ahead to Arsenal’s huge clash with Tottenham today. 

The Sky reporter asked about Nketiah’s transformation picture on Instagram and the Arsenal striker admitted that it’s an area of his game he has been working on. 

“Naturally as you grow older you get a bit stronger as well, but It’s something I’ve really worked on over the last couple of years, more so in the dark but it’s come to light now,” he said.

“But it’s something I’ve worked on. I think the robustness of the Premier League is really high, it’s really strong. You’re always playing against big, physical centre-backs, so, for me, I felt like, coming through, the difference between the U23s or the U18s and going to the first-team was that physicality.

“Being able to have that structure and that frame to do the things I was doing at youth level – to take the ball, to hold the ball, to turn. I think you need that level of competitiveness in terms of strength.

“Adding that has allowed me to show more sides to my game than what people were able to see. I’m in a better position to compete, I’m in better shape. 

“I’ve still got a lot to grow, I can still get bigger. I’m only 23 and that will come naturally as well. It’s something I’ve consciously worked on and it’s paying dividends at the moment.”

Nketiah’s hard work certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by his boss either, who told Arsenal’s official website that he looks ‘much better’ physically after he bagged two goals against Oxford on Monday. 

You can certainly see a difference in Nketiah’s game and the youngster has been leading the line exceptionally well for the Gunners. 

He will be hoping he can continue his goal scoring form today as Arsenal make the short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Arteta’s side have the opportunity to move eight points clear at the top of the table with a win against their bitter rivals.