Garth Crooks has criticised Eddie Nketiah’s form by suggesting that the Arsenal striker has gone off the boil in recent games.
Crooks has told BBC Sport that he thinks Nketiah has suffered a real dip of form in the last few weeks.
Crooks added that Arsenal’s title hopes now face a real problem and they must get Nketiah firing again in order to win the title.
“Playing Leandro Trossard as an out-and-out striker is like placing a sticking plaster over a gaping wound. The Belgium international is not a natural centre-forward and, while his goal was brilliantly taken before VAR thought otherwise, Arsenal must get Eddie Nketiah – who admittedly has gone off the boil – back to form if they intend to keep a hand on the league title,” said Crooks.
Nketiah hasn’t scored since his brace in the 3-2 home win over Manchester United on the 22nd of January.
That’s now five Premier League games without a goal for Nketiah, although he only played 20 minutes against Leicester City.
Nketiah keeps getting chance but they just aren’t going in at the moment and he was dropped to the bench on Saturday.
After going on a run of six goals in six games in all competitions following the World Cup, Nketiah is now struggling.
Eddie Nketiah at risk of slipping down Arsenal pecking order
Nketiah filled in admirably for Gabriel Jesus at first but the difference in quality has told of late.
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Jesus is now on his way back to fitness and may well be available for selection again very soon.
The Brazilian surely won’t be sharp after such a long lay-off but you can imagine Mikel Arteta will count on him for goals.
The expectation has always been that Jesus will reclaim his spot in the team once he is back fit.
Yet Nketiah now has Leandro Trossard to worry about too.
The Belgian took his place in the Arsenal attack on Saturday afternoon, playing something of a false nine role up top.
That worked well as Arsenal claimed another win and Arteta may be minded to take that approach moving forward too.
If that happens then Nketiah could be at risk of being third-choice in the Arsenal pecking order.
That would be a real blow after showing some promising signs, so Nketiah needs to get back on track quickly.
In other news, ‘Should have done better’: Jose Enrique critical of Newcastle 29-year-old
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