Arteta rues not playing Eddie Nketiah often after striker’s double sinks Chelsea as Arsenal boost top-four bid
Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge in London on Wednesday. Pics/Getty Images
Eddie Nketiah boosted Arsenal’s bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League as the striker’s double inspired a dramatic 4-2 win against Chelsea on Wednesday. Nketiah was released by Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2015 and he exacted a measure of revenge with his first league goals this season.
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Nketiah, 22, put Arsenal ahead early on at Stamford Bridge before Timo Werner equalised. Mikel Arteta’s side regained the lead trough Emile Smith Rowe, only for Cesar Azpilicueta to draw Chelsea level again.
Mikel Arteta
Nketiah settled a pulsating London derby when he punished shambolic Chelsea defending in the second half and Bukayo Saka bagged the fourth with a stoppage-time penalty.
Gunners are in fifth place
After losing their last three games, Nketiah’s crucial contribution lifted Arsenal back into the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish. The Gunners are in fifth place, behind fourth-placed Tottenham on goal difference with both teams having six games to play. “It’s a great night and the players deserve it. It has been a tough two weeks but you have to bounce back and show spirit,” Arteta said.
‘I love the spirit’
“I love the spirit of these players. When you lose matches you get criticised but for these players it is worth it. They are really growing.”
Saluting Nketiah, Arteta added: “What Eddie has done tonight is because of what he has done for the last 10 months and no-one has noticed. I said to him I haven’t been fair. I should have been playing him more.”
Arsenal’s hopes of returning to the Champions League for the first time since 2017 face another vital test against sixth-placed Manchester United on Saturday. FA Cup finalists Chelsea remain in third place, but they are now only five points ahead of Arsenal and cannot take a top-four place for granted.
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