Eddie Nketiah has played understudy to Gabriel Jesus this season(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has challenged Eddie Nketiah to ‘grab his opportunity’ after injury to star forward Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian is set to miss the next three months of action after sustaining a knee injury at the World Cup with Brazil.
Jesus has transformed Arsenal’s play since joining in a £45m deal from Manchester City last summer but he’s expected to be out for at least ten weeks following knee surgery.
Nketiah has played understudy to the Brazilian throughout the season, which has limited him to 12 Premier League appearances this term – none of which have been starts.
Nevertheless the 23-year-old has impressed in the Europa League, where he’s scored three times.
Arteta is reportedly open to signing a forward in January but it’s famously difficult to sign players in the winter window.
Arteta wants Nketiah to step up. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
And the Spaniard has therefore challenged Nketiah to step-up in Jesus’ absence, insisting that he can fill the void left by the Brazil star.
‘Eddie is always ready,’ said Arteta, after Arsenal’s friendly defeat to Juventus.
‘He knows that it opens an opportunity for him. He needs to grab it but the way he trains every day and the mentality he has.
‘He gives us no reason not to think he’s going to be super ready to perform.’
More: Sport
Arsenal resume their domestic campaign with the visit of West Ham United to the Emirates on Boxing Day.
The Gunners top the table, enjoying a five-point lead on rivals Manchester City.
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Can he step up?
