‘I haven’t seen enough’: Ian Wright disappointed with one Arsenal player’s efforts this year

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Arsenal legend Ian Wright has criticised Gunners forward Eddie Nketiah on the Kelly and Wrighty Show.

The Highbury icon feels the 22-year-old hasn’t been showing enough hunger or determination on the pitch.

For years, Nketiah was being tipped as a potential star of the future at Arsenal.

However, the Hale End graduate hasn’t quite made the cut since breaking into the first team.

Nketiah has made 84 competitive appearances for Arsenal, but has registered just 18 goals and two assists.

Admittedly, Mikel Arteta hasn’t started him once in the Premier League this season.

Nketiah has started four games in the Carabao Cup this term and got himself five goals in the tournament.

But now, despite Arteta’s lack of options up front, the striker is still not getting regular game time in the league.

“I haven’t really seen it”

Nketiah’s contract expires at the end of the season and it looks as though he’ll leave.

And Wright feels the Arsenal academy graduate simply hasn’t taken his opportunity over the past few months.

“Eddie Nketiah… we were hoping might be the one to step in,” Wright told the Kelly and Wrighty Show on Premier League Productions (14/04/22, 13:10).

“He has opportunities to come on and make changes in games.

“I haven’t really seen it. We have seen Folarin Balogun go out on loan to Middlesbrough after signing a five-year deal.

“You are thinking is he somebody you could have thrown in. Could he have a chance?

“As a striker, you come in and nick a couple of goals. All of a sudden, things change for you.

“This is why I was very surprised with Eddie Nketiah, I thought he might have grabbed that nettle and really gone with it.

“Being a striker and seeing the main strikers struggle. You are thinking ‘I just want a chance to get on there’.

“Every time I have seen him come on, I haven’t seen enough, hunger, drive or determination to get that goal to make the manager say ‘yes, I can put my marker on you’.

“There are rumours that he’s going to leave. He might want to leave. But still, it’s an opportunity to show what you have got and are capable of.”

Nketiah must step up as Arsenal chase Champions League spot – TBR View

Arsenal have suffered a downturn in form at the worst possible time, losing their last two in the league.

However, the Gunners have a game in hand on Tottenham, who are three points ahead in fourth.

Arsenal have eight league games left this season and have what it takes to leapfrog their rivals back into the top four.

Nketiah may have flattered to deceive this term, but he now has the chance to write his name in Arsenal history.

He has the chance to get the Gunners back into the Champions League, from which the club can then build on and return to the top of English and European football.

Even if Nketiah wants to leave Arsenal, he now has the chance to leave as a hero.