Nketiah ready to seize England chance

05.09.2023 - 19:39 arabnews.com

BURTON UPON TRENT, United Kingdom: Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah believes his first England call-up has come at the right time as he stakes his claim to be Harry Kane’s deputy at Euro 2024.

The 24-year-old is England’s all-time top goalscorer at under-21 level having netted 16 in 17 games. But after bursting onto the scene as an 18-year-old, Nketiah’s future at Arsenal looked in doubt until an injury to Gabriel Jesus gave him the opportunity to impress for Mikel Arteta’s men last season.

Nketiah has also deputised for Jesus this season, scoring twice in four Premier League games, to earn his call-up to Gareth Southgate’s squad. “I think I am a much better player now than I was two or three years ago.

It is really nice and I am coming in at a good time,” said Nketiah on Tuesday. “I feel confident and I feel ready to continue to improve.

soccer FIFA Club World Cup England Mo Salah Gabriel Jesus Gareth Southgate Eddie Nketiah Britain Iran Saudi Arabia Uruguay

GENEVA: Spain return to national-team soccer this week amid turmoil since the men’s and women’s teams won international titles in the last games they played. The first two days of Spanish men’s preparation for a European Championship qualifying game Friday in Georgia started with captain Álvaro Morata reading a statement of support to the Women’s World Cup-winning players and denouncing “unacceptable behavior” by now-suspended federation boss Luis Rubiales. Off-field distractions continued Tuesday: an apology to world soccer for Rubiales’ conduct at and since the women’s final in Australia by his interim replacement Pedro Rocha, and firing beleaguered women’s team coach Jorge Vilda. Men’s team coach Luis de la Fuente — who won a UEFA Nations League title in June just months into the job — has kept that job despite also being a longtime federation ally of Rubiales. Unlike Vilda, De la Fuente did not face a walkout by his entire coaching staff and a player mutiny. Only Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias has said he won’t play for Spain until “things change.” Still, those Nations League victories over Italy then Croatia in the final, in a penalty shootout, seem a long time ago and the Group A table in Euro 2024 qualifying leaves fourth-place Spain lots to do. Group leader Scotland won two more games in June, after stunning Spain 2-0 in March, and are eight points clear ahead of playing last-place Cyprus on Friday.

Choosing England over Ghana a 'natural progression' for Nketiah

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah chose to play for England over Ghana because it felt like a "natural progression" in his career, he said, adding he will make his senior debut for the Three Lions at the perfect time.

Alexis Sanchez has already made it clear who he's supporting in Arsenal vs Manchester United

Alexis Sanchez looked like one of the best players in the world during his time at Arsenal, although things didn't really work out for him once he made the switch to Premier League rivals Manchester United.