Eddie Nketiah says he’s capable of starting up-front for Arsenal with Alexandre Lacazette

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Eddie Nketiah believes he can play upfront alongside Alexandre Lacazette if Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta played with two strikers.

The 22-year-old made his first Premier League start of the season in the 1-0 defeat at Southampton on Saturday with the Frenchman unavailable due to testing positive for Covid-19.

Both Lacazette and Nketiah’s contracts at the Emirates are set to expire at the end of June and as things stand, it looks like the pair will leave the Gunners as free agents.

But with Arteta’s side engulfed in a battle to finish in the all-important fourth Champions League spot, Nketiah is under no illusion that he can play alongside Arsenal’s captain if Arteta decided to change his system and play with two out and out strikers.

Speaking on the Beautiful Game Podcast, Nketiah said: “It’s good, most of my career I’ve played as a one, but when you are playing in a two, with someone like Laca, who understands the game and you can combine and link up with, it does help.

“I think also as a centre forward when you are playing against a back three or back two, it’s like, when there’s one it’s easier for them to occupy but when there is someone else you can drift out of the game or go into different areas.

“I enjoy playing in a two and I think I can play with him. When I have done I think it’s been okay.”

The pair have only started one Premier League game together and that came two years ago in a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

But Arsenal’s record with both Lacazette and Nketiah on the pitch together doesn’t make pleasant reading.

From 13 top-flight matches, the Gunners have lost ten when the forward duo have appeared alongside one and other. With Arsenal’s margin for error in the pursuit for Champions League football slender, that record may be weighing heavily on Arteta’s mind.