BBC pundit says Arsenal have an 'utterly natural goalscorer' in their ranks

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been praised by BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin for his Tuesday night heroics.

The 22-year-old scored a hat-trick as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners cruised into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Nketiah has had his fair share of critics amongst Arsenal fans but he answered them against Sunderland.

The Hale End graduate – who The Athletic claims is valued at £20million – opened the scoring on 17 minutes.

Nketiah found the net on the rebound following a save from Rob Holding’s header.

Nicolas Pepe then doubled the Arsenal lead 10 minutes later with an effort that deflected off Callum Doyle.

Nathan Broadhead halved Sunderland’s deficit with a superb dink over Bernd Leno.

However, Nketiah restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage early in the second half.

Nuno Tavares whipped the ball in towards the near post, and the striker got across his man and flicked it into the net.

Nketiah then sealed his hat-trick in style on 58 minutes, latching onto Pepe’s delivery and flicking past Lee Burge.

Arsenal’s evening got even better as Charlie Patino marked his debut with a late goal.

Nevin, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live at full time, loved what he saw from the £45,000-a-week Arsenal forward.

“Nketiah is an utterly natural goalscorer and that’s possibly the best thing you can say about a striker,” he said (21/12, 21:52).

“He seems to slow things down in front of goal.

“It’s hard to do against Premier League opposition, but he’s definitely got a chance to do it.”

BBC pundit says Arsenal have an ‘utterly natural goalscorer’ in their ranks