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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Eddie Nketiah for stepping up to the plate in the absence of Gabriel Jesus on their return to the Premier League.
THE LOWDOWN: TOOK A RARE CHANCE
Nketiah got a rare start as Arsenal welcomed London rivals West Ham United to the Emirates on Boxing Day. He scored the third goal in a commanding 3-1 comeback win to help Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
That was his 11th straight goal in 11 Emirates starts, which is something that will encourage Arteta as he worries about how he will play with Jesus out until February at the earliest.
The Spaniard had words of praise for Nketiah, whose ability to deputiZe for Jesus and lead the line for Arsenal has been doubted by media and fans.
THE LATEST: ARTETA HAILS INCREDIBLE PLAYER
Speaking to Arsenal media after the game, Arteta said: “It was a great goal but I think overall his performance was incredible. The way he understood the pressing, his intensity, the way he counter-attacked certain spaces, the composure he showed. And then he stayed patient. And in the box he produced a moment of real quality to win us the game.”
Arteta reserved some praise for man of the match Martin Ødegaard, whose performance in the game was one of his best for the club this season.
“He was great. Since back in Dubai when we were there, he’s been exceptional,” Arteta said of his captain. “That’s what you want from your leaders, with the important players to have that presence on the pitch. With and without the ball I think he was really good today.”
The manager then thanked the Arsenal fans, who, after six weeks, brought the same energy and cheered the team to a tenth straight home league win.
He said: “I was proud of the crowd and supporters, because conceding a goal at home, and the reaction we got from them, it was just really incredible. They really energised the team, we kept doing what we did in the first half, a bit better in the final third, and we didn’t concede anything (in the second-half) so we deserved to win the game.”
THE VERDICT: ONTO THE NEXT ONE
Arsenal will travel to Brighton and Hove Albion on New Year’s Eve before welcoming Newcastle United to the Emirates on January 3, 2023.
Arteta will surely be counting on the fans to help them extend the run to eleven unbeaten games at home, especially against a rampaging Newcastle side who are mounting a fierce charge for the title.
