Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness has labeled Eddie Nkrtiah as Arsenal’s best player on the pitch against West Ham.
Arsenal won 2-1 against West Ham in the London derby thanks to goals from Rob Holding and Gabriel to move the Gunner three points behind Chelsea on the League table.
The Gunner’s hope of playing in the Champions League next season is still alive with 4 matches left to play for in the Premier League.
The 22 years striker led the line for Arsenal and his impressive performance has caught the attention of Graeme Sounes who quizzed why Arsenal has not extended his contract for him as his Arsenal contract ends this summer.
What did Souness say?
He told Skysports that:‘Arsenal deserved to win the game, Arsenal were a good team today’’.
‘I thought in the second half they found another yard, ok it was two defenders who got them the goals, but I still think they deserved to win the game.
‘Nketiah, I thought was the best player on the pitch today.
‘He was always threatening, he had a couple of shots where he came in on his right foot and made the goalkeeper work.
‘You always want him to run forward, stretch the defender. His contract is about to run out and I’m amazed at that, I really am.
‘He will not be short of teams wanting him. I really like him, I thought he was fabulous.’
Club officials have attempted to persuade Nketiah to sign a new contract beyond the one that expires in the summer, but the 22-year-old has so far refused and appears to be on his way out.
Jamie Redknapp has also praised Eddie Nketia for adding dimension to the Arsenal team.
As a pundit on Sky Sports, he said: Nketiah has given Arsenal a different dimension.’’
“When you’ve got a player like Lacazette, who can’t run in behind, he’s always coming to the ball.
“It’s fine, he links the play, lovely, but you need to spread the play.
“You need to stretch teams and that is what Nketiah does.
“He gives the team a release and it changes the whole complexion of the game.”
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has also hailed his team for winning ugly to move above Tottenham on the Premier League table.
Although Arsenal was not their usual best, they managed to get three points from West Ham in the London derby.
Speaking in an interview after the West Ham match, Arteta said: “We won ugly and big teams have to find a way to win ugly when they don’t play at their best,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“With the ball, we were really poor. We lacked composure, and dominance to play the game we wanted to play, but we found a way through set pieces, by defending extremely well.
“To win here is a credit to the boys. They showed the spirit we have.
“I’m still digesting a lot of things we didn’t do right, but as a team to grow in confidence and to continue with the moment we have, we’ve won against three big teams in a row.”
