So far this season Eddie Nketiah hasn't played for Arsenal. Now an opportunity has arisen for that to all change...





Like most Gooners, I started to pay attention to Eddie Nketiah on one fateful night last year. 24th October 2017. Arsenal were 1-0 down to Norwich at The Emirates in the 85th minute of the Carabao Cup Round of 16. Despite fielding a weakened team with the likes of Matt Macey, Mathieu Debuchy and Reiss Nelson starting, an Arsenal loss would have been a huge upset. With pressure mounting and Canary fans gaining in cockiness, on came young Nketiah to make his home debut.





It took him just seconds to score. He poked home a flick on from a corner and drew Arsenal level with his first touch. Then, magically, he gave the Gunners the lead 5 minutes into extra time. You can't get much of a better introduction to Gooners than that. "Eddie, Eddie" rang round the Emirates and Nketiah was on Cloud 9.





Nketiah was born in 1999, making him the first Arsenal goalscorer born after Arsene Wenger's reign began.





Since then, the 19 year old has had to deal with a change of manager. Wenger gave Eddie 10 appearances last season. However, as of this point in time, Unai Emery has not given Nketiah a chance in the first team. He's appeared on the bench several times and is Arsenal's leading goalscorer in the Premier League 2 Division 1 with 6 goals, but he has been kept out of the starting 11 by Danny Welbeck. "Dat Guy" unfortunately injured his ankle against Sporting and is likely to be out for most of the season. Whilst it's terrible that he's the victim of such a nasty injury and will suffer another setback in his career, Welbeck's absence presents the perfect opportunity for Eddie to prove to Emery he's got what it takes to be the third choice striker.





Nketiah must show he can step up another level from the Under 23s. In many ways, he is very similar to Emile Smith-Rowe. They're both young English attackers who have been in hot form in Premier League 2. Smith-Rowe has taken his chance and played 5 games this season already, scoring twice (vs Qarabag in the Europa League and Blackpool in the Carabao Cup). Now it's time for Nketiah to do the sam

e. He's got my full support and I wish him the best of luck. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!





Next fixture: Bournemouth (A) 1:30pm, Sunday 25th November





Nketiah image via user "

Chensiyuan" on Wikimedia