ISAAN KHAN: Eddie Nketiah isn’t ready to slip back into the shadows at Arsenal after smashing in his first Premier League hat-trick

Eddie Nketiah scored three goals in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Sheffield United
The striker has no intentions of returning to the shadows at the Gunners
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Super sub, back-up striker or Arsenal’s first-choice No 9? It is hard to know where Eddie Nketiah sits after he smashed in his first Premier League hat-trick.

But he is making a strong case to be the third of those options.

A flick through the history of Premier League title winners reveals some quality back-up strikers, from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United in the 1990s to Julian Alvarez last season at Manchester City.

Edin Dzeko fulfilled the role for Sergio Aguero at City, as did Gabriel Jesus, now of Arsenal. Leonardo Ulloa chipped in with goals for Leicester in 2015-16.

If Arsenal are to take their title challenge all the way, Nketiah could well be the man to fill such a role. His third goal in the Gunners’ 5-0 drubbing of Sheffield United, a whipping strike from outside the box which left goalkeeper Wes Foderingham wafting at thin air, highlighted the talent the striker possesses and why Gareth Southgate called him up to his last England squad. His first effort was a work of art, too; the first touch to put him in on goal was a delight.

Eddie Nketiah has no plans to return to the Arsenal shadows after his weekend hat-trick

The striker scored three of Arsenal’s five goals in a thumping home win over Sheffield United

But will it be enough to catapult him from back-up to main man? After his match-winning display on Saturday, Nketiah said: ‘I just try to give my best every day so when I come in, he (manager Mikel Arteta) can trust me.

‘Of course, it’s a totally different context — coming on for 10 minutes or starting for 90 minutes feels completely different.

‘Whatever role I am given, I give my best, whether it is five minutes, two minutes, 10 minutes. I just want to help the team and my main focus is to contribute and try to get the win.’

With Arsenal’s No 1 striker Jesus sidelined again after picking up a hamstring injury against Sevilla last Tuesday, Nketiah will have another run at making the spot his own. Jesus, who had his second knee operation in 12 months earlier this year, is due back in a few weeks but he cannot be expected to take the strain across all competitions.

Nketiah believes there is plenty of time to correct his mistakes, and improving with game time

And even when Jesus is back, Nketiah could still start, as the pair have featured together before, with the Brazilian deployed out wide. There is a school of thought that Nketiah is the more natural finisher of the pair and should stay at No 9.

Yet Arsenal are still linked with other strikers. Brentford’s Ivan Toney is a possible target for January. But between now and then is an age in footballing terms. Nketiah will have chances to make the Toney talk redundant.

Nketiah is still only 24, and he believes there is plenty more to come. He added: ‘The more I am playing, the more I am learning, and just recovering and making sure the next time I correct those mistakes. I am improving with more game time.’

MATCH STATS

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya 6; White 7.5 (Tomiyasu 66min, 7.5), Saliba 7, Kiwior 6.5, Zinchenko 6.5; Smith Rowe 6 (Vieira 74, 7), Rice 8 (Elneny 89), Havertz 5; Saka 7 (Nelson 73, 6.5), NKETIAH 9, Martinelli 7 (Trossard 66, 7).

Scorers: Nketiah 28, 50, 58, Vieira 88 (pen), Tomiyasu 90+6.

Manager: Mikel Arteta 7.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-5-1): Foderingham 5; Bogle 5.5 (Baldock 71, 5.5), Trusty 5.5, Robinson 5.5, Thomas 5.5; McAtee 5.5 (Fleck 71, 5.5), Norwood 5, Ben Slimane 5.5 (Osborn 59, 5.5), Souza 5.5, Hamer 5.5 (One 83); Brewster 5 (Archer 59, 5.5).

Booked: Osborn, Bogle, Norwood.

Manager: Paul Heckingbottom 5.

Referee: Tim Robinson 6.

Attendance: 60,153.

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