Three reasons why Nketiah could become England's hottest prospect
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 25 May 2022 21:47 BST
- 3 min read
Eddie Nketiah appears to be on the verge of signing a new contract with Arsenal.
The young striker, whose current deal is up in June, has been linked with the likes of Crystal Palace and Newcastle in recent weeks.
It is believed that the 22-year-old is in search of game-time and so wanted to ensure that he made the best decision going into the next campaign.
But while some might have their eyebrows raised at his likely decision to remain at the Emirates Stadium, there are plenty of reasons to suggest that Nketiah could become England’s next big thing there.
Here, FootballTransfers takes you through three major factors that could contribute to Nketiah becoming a world-beater under Mikel Arteta.
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His form at youth level
For the England under-21s, Nketiah has netted 16 goals in 17 matches. He is, in fact, one of the most prolific strikers to have played at youth level for the Three Lions. As such, comparisons have been made between him and the likes of Jermain Defoe, who was also a deadly finisher with a quick turn of pace and an eye for goal.
Last season for Arsenal, the youngster netted on 10 occasions in 26 games - not bad for a forward who was only given a fair crack of the whip when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departed for Barcelona in January.
His transformation
The forward has undergone something of an astonishing body transformation over recent years. From being a skinny lad to an elite athlete possessing a huge frame, the former Gunners academy player very much looks the part now.
Nketiah had spoken about how during the first lockdown in 2020 he opted to put on mass to cope with the physical Premier League.
“During lockdown, I worked really hard on getting bigger and better on the ball,” he said. “I’ve used the time well and it’s good that people can see the hard work."
His newfound shape has undoubtedly been part of the driving force behind his improved form this season.
Criticism of him has been misplaced
There has been a lot of criticism aimed at the striker for being inconsistent, but such form is in keeping with Arsenal’s season as a whole.
If the player has a good number of solid players around him, his form will pick up and he has the ability to start finding the net at a more regular rate.
Nketiah is still young and learning. This season has been, really, his breakout year, and if that is the marker, we can expect vast improvement down the line.
