18 September 2023 , 07:55
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Alan Shearer has suggested that Mikel Arteta should drop Eddie Nketiah because he is not good enough to start every weekend for Arsenal.
Arteta sprung some surprises in his selection for the Gunners’ trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday, with Nketiah in the team alongside David Raya and Fabio Vieira. Nketiah was picked ahead of Gabriel Jesus, despite the Brazilian striker having fully recovered from his injury problems.
Arsenal broke their run of defeats at Everton by picking up a 1-0 win thanks to Leandro Trossard’s goal, but it was by no means a straightforward victory. Nketiah has two Premier League goals this season, but was a peripheral figure up front, with his only real contribution a touch of the ball in the build-up which ruled Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half goal out for offside.
“I think we’ll continue to have the discussion to say is he elite?” Shearer said of Nketiah on Premier League Productions. “Is he the top drawer striker that perhaps Arsenal need to go to that next level.
“We’ll keep asking those questions because it’s important when he gets the opportunity, like he has done again and the manager says I’m having belief in you and I’m putting you in again then he has to take those opportunities.
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“I just thought there were two or three occasions, one being the disallowed goal, there was a couple in that second half where I’m thinking, ‘come on, get on the end of it get in that six-yard box and get that tap in that all great strikers do’ and it was just a split second where he was slow. Until he keeps doing or does that questions are still going to be asked.”
Eddie Nketiah's place in the Arsenal team has been questioned (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Do you agree with Alan Shearer? What is Arsenal's best starting XI? Comment below.
Jesus has generally been Arteta’s first-choice striker since joining the club in a £45million move from Manchester City in July 2022. He has 12 goals and eight assists in 36 games for Arsenal, but Arteta is steadfast in his belief that no-one is assured of a place in his side.
Asked about the decision to pick £27m summer signing Raya ahead of normal No.1 Aaron Ramsdale, Arteta gave an impassioned answer which suggested he will rotate his squad frequently this season. “The same rationale that Fabio played here or Eddie played instead of Gabriel Jesus,” he said.
“I haven’t had a single question on why Gabriel Jesus hasn’t started. He’s won more trophies than anyone, including me, in that dressing room, but they don’t. It’s something that has been historically done like this, but I cannot have two players like this in one position and not play them.”
Arsenal turn their attention to the Champions League next, hosting PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, before a north London derby against in-form Tottenham on Sunday.