In a pivotal moment for his burgeoning career, Arsenal’s star striker, Eddie Nketiah, firmly believes that his first-ever call-up to the England national team couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Nketiah, aged 24, is setting his sights on becoming the primary backup for England’s talismanic forward, Harry Kane, in the forthcoming Euro 2024 tournament.
Nketiah has been a prolific scorer for England’s under-21 squad, solidifying his status as their all-time top goal-scorer with an impressive record of 16 goals in just 17 appearances.
However, the path to prominence in the Arsenal first team has not always been smooth for Nketiah. After making a dazzling debut for the club at the tender age of 18, his future at Arsenal seemed uncertain until a timely injury to Gabriel Jesus presented him with an invaluable opportunity to showcase his talents in Mikel Arteta’s squad during the previous season.
The 24-year-old striker has continued to deputize for Gabriel Jesus in the current season, making his presence felt with two goals in four Premier League outings. His consistent performances have now earned him a coveted spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Speaking about his call-up, Nketiah expressed his confidence in his current abilities: “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. I feel confident and I feel ready to continue to improve. That is the thing; I’m still young and humble enough to know I am not the finished article. Coming away with these players and being able to show my quality and learn from them is really good for me and (to) continue to take those steps in my career.”
England, led by manager Gareth Southgate, is set to embark on an important journey as they travel to Wroclaw, Poland, to face Ukraine on Saturday, aiming to extend their flawless record in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, having secured victories in all four of their previous matches.
Following this crucial qualifier, the Three Lions will engage in a friendly match against Scotland on Tuesday, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first-ever international encounter between the two nations. This match at Hampden Park could provide Southgate with an opportunity to rest key players like Harry Kane and evaluate the depth of his squad ahead of the eagerly anticipated Euro 2024 tournament in Germany next year.
Nketiah, who has roots in Ghana through his parents, acknowledged the tough decision he faced in choosing between England and Ghana for international representation: “Obviously both sides were always an option. I think naturally coming through the academy at England, you have the aspiration to play here, and once the call-up was there and the offer was on the table, it was really hard to turn down. I felt now was a good time to make that step, so obviously I’m really happy to be here and proud to be here. Hopefully, I can go on and help the team this week and get some caps.”
Nketiah’s determination to seize this opportunity and contribute to England’s success in the upcoming matches reflects his commitment to furthering his international career and potentially stepping into the role of Harry Kane’s understudy on the grand stage of Euro 2024.
