Gilmour: Nketiah can be one of world’s best strikers | OneFootball

Former Arsenal youngster Charlie Gilmour thinks his old teammate Eddie Nketiah can be one of the best strikers in the world.

Speaking to the Online Gooner this week, Charlie Gilmour claimed Eddie Nketiah can be whatever he wants to be, after impressing with his progression over the last few years.

The ex-Arsenal academy midfielder only played alongside Nketiah for 21 minutes in the first team – his total game time for Arsenal’s senior side. However, the two made plenty more appearances together at youth level.

Gilmour watched Nketiah rising through the ranks, and he liked what he saw.

“Eddie has improved so much,” Gilmour said. “He was very good in the early days, but he’s phenomenal now.

“The progression he’s made in just three or four years is unbelievable and I believe he can be one of the best strikers in the world. He can be whatever he wants to be.

“His finishing is clinical, he loves scoring goals and he has the selfish instinct that all good strikers need to have.”

Nketiah struggled to get game time with Leeds United on loan at the start of the season. Nonetheless, he performed when he did get chances, scoring five goals without even making five starts.

Another three goals for Arsenal on his return left him on eight for the season – one every 137 minutes.

The 20-year-old even got ahead of Alexandre Lacazette in Mikel Arteta’s Premier League starting lineup. He started all three wins against Newcastle United, Everton and West Ham before the break.

Arguably, the first two games were as much to do with Arteta saving Lacazette for the Olympiacos tie. However, by the West Ham game, there was no need to rest the Frenchman. After all, it was Nketiah who had also started against Portsmouth in midweek.

The new Arsenal head coach is clearly willing to give Nketiah the chance Gilmour thinks he deserves.