Eddie Nketiah, the English-born Ghanaian forward, expressed his delight at reuniting with legendary manager Arsene Wenger.
The iconic French coach was present at the Emirates Stadium for the unveiling of a statue in his honor, commemorating his remarkable achievements during his tenure as the coach of Arsenal.
Wenger played a pivotal role in Nketiah’s career, providing the talented youngster with an opportunity to join Arsenal’s youth team back in 2015. The England youth international showcased his skills on Tuesday when Wenger’s former club, Monaco, faced Arsenal in a pre-season friendly, and Nketiah found the back of the net.
After the match, Nketiah had the chance to speak with Wenger in the changing room. The young forward revealed that the esteemed coach expressed pride in his development and performance. Nketiah expressed deep gratitude for Wenger’s guidance and support throughout his career, acknowledging the positive impact the legendary coach had on his journey.
“I’ll take him [here] next week as well if he can!,” Nketiah told the club’s media.
“I was speaking to him in the changing room after and he’s really proud of me. I’m really grateful for everything he did for me and for my career, and it’s great to have such a legend here and see a new statue outside.
“He just told me to keep going. He thinks my game’s come on a lot since [he departed]. He’s really proud of me.
“Obviously, he’s seen me develop and watched me from when he first gave me my debut up until now. Like I said I’m really grateful and it’s really good to see him around.”
The presence of such a football legend at the club and the unveiling of his statue served as a poignant reminder of Wenger’s significant contributions to Arsenal’s history.
In related news, it was recently revealed that Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has engaged in discussions with Nketiah about the possibility of the player switching nationalities and representing Ghana in the future. The decision to switch allegiances is yet to be determined, but it highlights Nketiah’s growing reputation and potential to make an impact on the international stage.
