‘You are jogging’: Mikel Arteta unhappy with 23-year-old for losing possession in Arsenal training video
Mikel Arteta can seemingly be heard criticising Eddie Nketiah for jogging during the latest training ground video Arsenal have posted on their YouTube channel, telling the striker that that is why he lost possession.
Nketiah has made a brilliant impact since breaking into the starting lineup since the World Cup. There was real pressure on the 23-year-old after Gabriel Jesus sustained an injury in Qatar.
He has stepped up, scoring against both West Ham and Brighton. Meanwhile, he came closest to finding the winner in the stalemate with Newcastle.
Arteta criticises Nketiah in Arsenal training
He does not tick the same boxes as Jesus. But he has done extremely well. But Arteta will be desperate to ensure that he does not carried away with his bright start.
And it seems that he is not letting him switch off on the training ground. In the latest training ground video, Arteta can be heard bellowing at both Nketiah and Granit Xhaka to move at one stage.
Nketiah soon receives the ball from Martin Odegaard. However, he quickly loses possession. And that prompts Arteta to shout: ‘you are jogging, that’s why you lose the ball’.
Nketiah quickly snaps back into life. He regains possession moments later and gets a thunderous shot away. Obviously, it is a reminder of how he just seems to come alive inside the penalty area.
Nketiah has done so much good work on his game over the last 12 months. One year ago, it seemed almost inevitable that he would be leaving Arsenal sooner or later.
His chance soon came his way as Alexandre Lacazette became something of a goalscoring liability. And he showed glimpses of what he could do before the summer.
He has taken his game to another level this season. That is why he is not looking out of place replacing someone as good as Jesus.
But Arteta clearly feels that there is more to come. And he is ready to push him all the way.
