Mikel Arteta says he ‘must be blind’ not to play Eddie Nketiah after his showing in training, with the striker stepping up for Arsenal’s opener in win against Nottingham Forest

Mikel Arteta felt Eddie Nketiah’s performances in training warned that he ‘must be blind’ not to play the striker, as he opened the scoring in Saturday’s victory over Nottingham Forest.

Nketiah’s strike, assisted off Gabriel Martinelli’s Cruyff turn, followed the striker being dropped for the Gunners’ Community Shield triumph against Manchester City. That was despite Gabriel Jesus’ injury.

But Arteta was left effusive about the ‘role model’ player, who added to his Emirates Cup goal against Monaco.

‘I’m delighted for him because he is a role model,’ said Arteta.

‘He was a player who was so disappointed not to play the final in the absence of Gabi (Jesus).

Mikel Arteta felt Eddie Nketiah’s training work warned that he ‘must be blind’ not to play him

Mikel Arteta felt Eddie Nketiah’s training work warned that he ‘must be blind’ not to play him

The striker scored Arsenal's opening game in the 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday

The striker scored Arsenal’s opening game in the 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday

‘What he did was he came on the field in the final and changed the game. That’s number one. The second one was the way he was training this week, he was saying, “Gaffer, if you’re not playing me you are blind”.

‘A lot of players come and say, “Oh why am I not playing” and you have to try to explain. Other players come and say, “These are the reasons why I deserve to play”.

‘This is exactly what Eddie does. This is exactly what he did and then he got on the pitch and he performs that way. He’s a clear and very good example to everybody.’

A sour note for the Spainiard was an injury to Jurrien Timber, who required assistance off the pitch and had been clutching near his knee before half-time.

He added: ‘The doctors looked at him (at half-time) and they were happy for him to continue, he was as well.

‘Straight away in the first action of the second half, he made a movement and it was a bit funny. We took him out straight after, and now we have to assess him and see what he has.’

Arteta also spoke about the injury to Jurrien Timber, which saw him assisted off the pitch

Arteta also spoke about the injury to Jurrien Timber, which saw him assisted off the pitch

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Post source: Daily mail

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