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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been asked about the role of youngster Eddie Nketiah in the squad and he’s explained that he’s pushing close for a regular starting position.

Nketiah has made the step up from the Gunners academy to the first-team at the Emirates Stadium this year and he appears to be going from strength to strength.

The 21-year-old striker is an exciting talent on North London that is now an important member of Arteta’s group and his senior record for Arsenal is currently nine goals in 43 appearances.

He’s enjoyed a superb international break, as he broke the record to become the highest ever goalscorer for England’s Under-21s side.

Nketiah is a centre-forward that has started four of the club’s opening seven games across all competitions this season, but only one of those has been in the Premier League.

Alexandre Lacazette, 29, is the senior striker that Nketiah is in direct competition for a starting role this campaign and Arteta has hinted the youngster is pushing his teammate hard.

“He’s very close because he’s already challenging everybody every week whether he’s a starter or not,” Arteta responded when asked how close Nketiah is to being a weekly starter, as quoted by Football.London.

“I always have that with him because of the way he trains and performs. His goalscoring record is getting better and better every week. He’s evolving in the right way, this is what we need, players challenging and knocking on the door to become starters for us.

TBR’s View:

Nketiah is clearly a promising young talent that has great movement in the penalty box and he looks a decent goalscorer, but he should remain understudy to Lacazette for the time being when it comes to Premier League fixtures.

With the Europa League and domestic cup competitions to play this season, Nketiah will get plenty of opportunities to impress this campaign and it’s clear that Arteta rates him extremely highly.

Frenchman Lacazette has to be the starting centre-forward at present due to his experience, as well as the fact he’s scored in all three league appearances so far this campaign.