Eddie Nketiah has sent a strong message to Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, as he vowed to step up after Gunners lose Gabriel Jesus to injury.
The London club suffered a major blow as the Brazilian striker had to undergo “a little procedure” after he “had some discomfort in his knee that caused him some issues” during the previous campaign.
Jesus could not even participate in the Emirates Cup final against Monaco and is staring at “a few weeks” on the sidelines.
In the absence of the star striker, Nketiah was handed a start against Monaco and also had the armband as Martin Odegaard was kept on the bench.
He proved his mettle by scoring an equaliser in the first half before the Premier League side won 5-4 on penalties.
After putting in a statement performance, the 24-year-old vowed to continue his form if given the opportunity to lead the line.
“Obviously I believe in my abilities, I know I can contribute.
“The manager has a tough decision, but whenever he calls me, he knows I can deliver,” he stated.
However, Nketiah also underlined the importance of Jesus to this Arsenal team and labelled him as a “big player”.
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“We want [Jesus] back as soon as possible. We need him, he’s a big player for us. I don’t think I’m here to fill in for anyone.
“I’m here to play and contribute to the team,” he stated.
