LONDON — In his Arsenal career, Eddie Nketiah has often been defined by what he is not. He is not the dynamic forward who sets up his teammates and scores goals. He is not a target man. He is not the superstar scorer fans hope for. However, his exceptional quality of consistently finding himself in positions to take high-grade shots cannot be overlooked. If not for this ability, Arsenal may not have won their first two games of the season.
Nketiah had a chance to put Arsenal in a more secure position in their game against Crystal Palace. However, his shot was a disappointment compared to his other misses throughout the match. Had Arsenal not found a goal, questions would have been asked about who could fill the void left by Gabriel Jesus, such as Leandro Trossard or Folarin Balogun. Nketiah’s record in front of goal has been less than impressive, but his talent lies in consistently getting into scoring positions. Despite underperforming his expected goals, he averages an impressive 0.59 non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes. It is only a matter of time before he goes on a hot streak and starts converting more of his chances.
Nketiah has a knack for anticipating where the ball will break, which allows him to find scoring opportunities. He showcased this ability in the game against Palace, taking advantage of Arsenal’s high pressure. His movement and strength allowed him to create chances and score goals. For now, Nketiah’s role is as a backup striker who can provide a goal threat when needed. Arsenal can rely on him to take shots and help break down stubborn defenses.
