‘No-one has noticed’: Mikel Arteta says Arsenal man has been improving for 10 months and nobody has realised

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Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah scored twice as the Gunners reignited their top four hopes with a 4-2 win over Chelsea.

Alexandre Lacazette’s absence has handed the academy graduate and opportunity to shine and he certainly took it last night, amid uncertainty over his contract situation.

After the game, Mikel Arteta admitted that Nketiah has been more deserving of gametime and has been improving all season without much recognition.

Arteta said as per BBC Sport: “I should have been playing him more. I said to him I haven’t been fair. What Eddie has done tonight is because of what he has done for the last 10 months and no-one has noticed.

“We have other issues as well and that has not been easy. But he deserved completely what happened to him tonight.”

As per the club website, he added: “To be honest it’s what he does every day in training. I’ve been unfair with him.

He’s not been patient, he’s been the next thing to patient! But look physically how he is. Look how strong he is and how mature he is. I’m delighted for him.”

Nketiah wants to play regular football and so far he has not had the chance to do that regularly for Arsenal, but the chance may come his way at the business end of the season.

Another crucial goal or two would put Arsenal right back in the hunt for the Champions League spot, as well as killing off Manchester United’s hopes on Saturday.

The key for Arsenal is to find some consistency again; this was a sensational way to respond to a run of defeats after the international break, but it must continue.