Eddie Nketiah is told to ‘get nasty’ by Chris Sutton as Ian Ladyman asks ‘if we are in the Premier League or Kindergarten’ on ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ after the Arsenal star gave a penalty to Fabio Vieira because his wife was pregnant
- Nketiah had already scored a hat-trick when Arsenal were awarded a penalty
- The England forward gave it to Vieira instead of trying to score a fourth goal
- Click here to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off
Chris Sutton has urged Eddie Nketiah to ‘get nasty’ after questioning the Arsenal star for allowing Fabio Vieira to take a penalty in the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
Nketiah had already scored his first Premier League hat-trick as Arsenal ran riot at the Emirates but turned down the chance to net a fourth as he gave Vieira the ball for a second-half spot-kick instead of taking it himself.
The 24-year-old forward revealed afterwards that he had passed the penalty on to Vieira because the Portuguese midfielder’s partner, Carina Raquel, was pregnant and because he had won it. Vieira confirmed on Instagram on Sunday that his partner had given birth to a baby boy.
Speaking on the latest edition of Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Sutton and football editor Ian Ladyman criticised Nketiah and said some of the Premier League’s best goalscorers, such as Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, would not have spurned the opportunity to score a fourth goal.
‘The difference between your Shearers, Wrights, Larssons… they wouldn’t be giving the ball away to a team-mate when they can get another goal on their tally,’ Sutton said.
Eddie Nketiah (R) allowed Fabio Vieira (L) to take a penalty in Arsenal’s win over Sheffield Utd
Vieira confirmed on Instagram that his partner, Carina Raquel, had given birth to a baby boy
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‘They’d grab the ball, put the ball on the spot and pushed everybody away and saying ‘I’m taking this”.
‘Nketiah was happy with his hat-trick, but Shearer, Wright… they want more. They want four, they want five, they want sixes – and that’s the difference.
‘That’s where Nketiah can improve. If he wants to be a top player, if he wants to lead the line, be the No 9 at Arsenal. Talent-wise I think he’s got it and he’s a brilliant finisher but he’s got to be nasty, he’s got to be ruthless.
‘It shows he’s a nice guy, but nice doesn’t get you to the top.’
Ladyman was also critical as he asked whether we were ‘in the Premier League or Kindergarten’ following the incident at the Emirates.
Sutton said: ‘Yeah, I totally agree. Does he have the skills? Yeah, so he has the skills. Does he have the temperament? I think he needs to get nasty.’
Nketiah’s goals on Saturday were his first in the Premier League since Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Fulham in their third match of the season.
His form for the Gunners under Mikel Arteta earned him his first call-up to the England squad.
Nketiah made his debut for the senior side when he came off the bench in the 1-0 friendly win over Australia at Wembley earlier this month.
Arsenal remain unbeaten and are second in the Premier League, two points behind north London rivals Tottenham.
Chris Sutton (right) and Ian Ladyman questioned Nketiah for giving the penalty to Vieira
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
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