After being given the chance to impress on Thursday night, it’s fair to say Eddie Nketiah didn’t take his opportunity.
The Arsenal striker had a hugely disappointing game in the Gunners’ Europa League clash against Molde, looking wasteful in front of goal and finding it difficult against the Norwegian side’s defence.
And whilst Mikel Arteta’s side may have ran out comfortable 3-0 winners after a superb second-half performance in particular, the Gunners boss will not be happy at all with how his starting centre-forward performed.
Such was the trust that Arteta showed him, that he placed him at the top of his attack, and put experienced France international and fellow striker as the number ten.
But he didn’t take advantage of that opportunity whatsoever.
As per Sofascore, out of the nine duels that he contested on the night, he lost every single one of them. Too often he was easily shirked off the ball, and whilst he tried his best to run the channels, he just didn’t have the strength to hold his man off.
And perhaps even more disappointingly for him, his supposed poacher’s instinct also let him down on several occasions throughout the night.
He had four attempts on goal in total and failed to hit the back of the net with any of them, including one really poor header from an outstanding Nicolas Pepe cross.
It was made even more galling that Folarin Balogun, his replacement and potential challenger for a striker spot in the first-team, notched within seconds of coming on.
And many Gunners fans took to Twitter urging Nketiah to be sold, with some even calling for Balogun to be the man the north London side now pin their hopes on.
SELL NKETIAH NOW!!!!!!
— (@Denii_D) November 26, 2020
It’s time to sell one dimensional Nketiah.
— Nicolas Pépé = Inside-Forward, NOT a wide-winger (@AAArcanine) November 26, 2020
Sell Nketiah, missing the entire match #MOLARS
— Chunky Puffs (@ChunkyPuffs303) November 26, 2020
Sell nketiah and we have Martinelli
— Xhan13 (@zak13g) November 26, 2020
Lol we should just sell Nketiah with a buy-back clause
— josué (@joshnekoff) November 26, 2020
Arsenal need to sell Nketiah and extend Balogun’s contract
— DIHNO MB (@dihno_mb) November 26, 2020
Sell Nketiah for £28m to Burnley in January and give Balogun a new contract ?
— Harry Barr (@HarryRBarr) November 26, 2020
It’s fair to say Nketiah didn’t deliver what was expected of him against Molde. And with Balogun now knocking on the door, Arteta may feel that he has someone else to call upon through the middle.
The post Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah had a nightmare display against Molde in the Europa League first appeared on soccerFanCast.com.
