Martin Keown issues verdict on Eddie Nketiah display in Arsenal win

By Jordan Harris

Martin Keown has labelled the performance of Eddie Nketiah ‘magnificent’ as Arsenal beat Chelsea on Wednesday, telling Stadium Astro that the club’s academy graduates now deserve even more credit for inspiring the win.

Mikel Arteta’s men may have just got their top-four push in the Premier League back on track. The Gunners stunned many by beating Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge to end a run of three successive defeats.

It was a remarkable performance from the visitors. Emile Smith Rowe scored a brilliant goal during the first-half, while Bukayo Saka put the exclamation point on the win after the break.

But the night belonged to Nketiah. The 22-year-old scored twice on only his second league start of the season.

His first saw him do brilliantly to capitalise on a Andreas Christensen mistake to put Arsenal in front. And once again, he reacted quickest to make the score 3-2 in the second-half.

It could be a real turning point for Nketiah amid doubts over his Arsenal future. And Keown certainly feels that he proved a real point in the hugely significant win.

“I thought he was magnificent today. I know that the second one was perhaps given to him on a plate, the first one. You’ve got to be there to capitalise. He looked sharp, he dealt with the ball well. And those youngsters at Arsenal keep producing,” he told Stadium Astro.

Eddie Nketiah putting Premier League rivals on notice after Arsenal brace

Arsenal face a tough call with Nketiah. It is clear that he wants regular first-team football. And he has not had that all season at the Emirates.

Wednesday demonstrated what he can do. But Arsenal surely cannot afford to offer him the assurances he is looking for.

Instead, it is probably some of the Gunners’ Premier League rivals who have been put on notice. And there are likely to be a few more calls to his agent this morning ahead of the summer.