Eddie Nketiah backed for England call-up as Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta lauds striker ‘surprising’ critics

Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is playing his way into contention for an England call-up.

Nketiah has been in brilliant form since domestic football returned after the World Cup, scoring six goals in as many games.

Marcus Rashford is the only English player to score more Premier League goals than Nketiah in that time and the Arsenal striker is likely to be on Gareth Southgate’s radar if he continues his fine form ahead of March’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

Captain Harry Kane is England’s main striker, however Southgate has struggled to find an understudy with Brentford’s Ivan Toney one of those to earn a call-up earlier this season.

Nketiah, who is also eligible to represent Ghana via his parents, is England Under-21’s record goalscorer with 16 goals in 17 games, but the 23-year-old has never been capped at senior level.

“Hopefully, he will have it because we want the best for Eddie,” said Arteta. “That’s for Gareth [Southgate] or the coaching staff to respond to.

“Our job is to prepare him to be the best he can be. Sometimes you can be very good to play at that [level], but you don’t have the space to do it.

“That’s the challenge we all have, not only Eddie, to be not at that level but at a better level every single day.

“Eddie has been very consistent and I think he has surprised a few people with how he responded to the huge challenge and demands he had after Gabriel [Jesus] got injured. We are positive he can get much better, evolve and still continue to develop.”

Nketiah is from Lewisham in south London, but he qualifies to play for Ghana by virtue of his parents being from there. The striker has a close bond to the country and he travelled there during the recent mid-season break to see family and friends.

Ghana would love to cap Nketiah, but he has still not committed to them after representing England from U18 to U21 level.

“At the moment nothing’s been decided, there’s been talks on both sides but I’ve just been focused on playing at the club, helping the club and trying to get into the team and keep pushing,” Nketiah said earlier this season.

“Obviously in the near future that’ll be decided and I’ll make a decision on where I think is best for me alongside my family.”

Nketiah is in line to start for Arsenal tonight as they travel to Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Gunners have enjoyed a brilliant season so far and are currently top of the Premier League, with a five-point lead and a game in hand on City. They are also still in the Europa League and have a last-16 clash in March to look forward to.

Arteta, however, is trying to keep feet on the ground, even if supporters are daring to dream about a first league title since 2004.

“We are on that pathway but understand that we haven’t done anything yet and there are still a lot of things to improve,” he said.

“What we are doing gives us enthusiasm and hope to dream, but we know the reality is there is half of the season to play for, and in the Premier League it is a hell of a story and there are a lot of chapters still to be written.

“This league brings you incredible challenges. You have the best coaches in the world.”