Arsenal v Leeds review - Nketiah gaining trust?

Eddie Nketiah
Arsenal v Leeds review - Nketiah gaining trust?

By Tom Masters

Arsenal qualified for the quarter-finals of the League Cup after their 2-0 victory over Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.  

It is not yet known who the Gunners will face in the last eight but victory will give Mikel Arteta’s side every confidence they can advance to the final four as they continue their bid for silverware.  

Second half goals from Callum Chambers and Eddie Nketiah saw the Gunners ease to victory and change Arteta’s thinking about the potential sale of young forward Nketiah.  

The Spaniard said: “I have no doubts about what he can offer. Whatever you throw at him, he wants more, and demands more of himself.  

“He’s another one that I am delighted to see the performance and for him to score the goal and help the team, because he totally deserves it.  

“But there's a lot of players who play in that position, and with a personal situation [with his contract running down], but I try to leave that aside and try to [reward him] because he deserves it.”  

The victory continues Arsenal’s promising run since the tough start to the season, with a League Cup quarter-final adding to the six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, including a 3-1 victory in the north London derby.  

And with the current good run of form for the Gunners the pressure on Mikel Arteta seems to have been alleviated after it seemed he would struggle to regain the supporters’ faith again following the heavy defeat to Manchester City.  

Arsenal now have Leicester City away, Watford home and Liverpool away in their next three Premier League matches, in what is set to be a tough period for the Gunners.  

Having a League Cup quarter-final to look forward to is certainly going to help both Arsenal fans and Arteta himself through that tough patch and he made his feeling clear about the League Cup with his selection.  


Both Emile Smith Rowe and Ben White played on Tuesday night, despite playing on Friday night in the Premier League, and gearing up for another massive Premier League game at the King Power on Saturday.  

But Arteta, whilst wanting to win the League Cup, also wants to give other players an opportunity.  

He said: “Well it obviously opens up more space for opportunity for people.  

“Winning this trophy is something we want to accomplish. It’s great to see the players that didn’t have a lot of opportunities. The way they played today, the way they competed, and the way they won the game against a really good side.”  

Arsenal last won the League Cup in the 1992/93 season, but Arteta will feel his side have a good chance of changing that this season, advancing into the last eight and in good form.  

Only time will tell if that will be the case.  

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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