Karen Carney thinks Arsenal 22-year-old is ‘unstoppable’

Wed 22 December 2021 6:15, UK

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah was in sensational form in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Sunderland.

The 22-year-old scored a hat-trick as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners cruised into the semi-finals of the competition.

Nketiah’s initial inclusion in the Arsenal starting XI drew a somewhat mixed reaction amongst some fans.

Given the forward’s uncertain future at the Emirates, some wondered why Arteta was giving him game time.

However, Nketiah repaid his manager’s faith – and silenced his doubters – with an impressive treble en route to a 5-1 win.

The Hale End graduate opened the scoring on 17 minutes.

Nketiah found the net on the rebound following a save from Rob Holding’s header.

Nicolas Pepe then doubled the Arsenal lead 10 minutes later with an effort that deflected off Callum Doyle.

Nathan Broadhead halved Sunderland’s deficit with a superb dink over Bernd Leno.

However, Nketiah restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage early in the second half.

Nuno Tavares whipped the ball in towards the near post, and Nketiah got across his man and flicked it into the net.

Arsenal icon and BBC pundit Karen Carney loved what she saw from the striker.

“When you give Eddie Nketiah the service he is unstoppable in the area,” she said ().

“He gets across the defender really well, that’s where he comes live.”

Nketiah then sealed his hat-trick in style on 58 minutes.

The ace latched on to Pepe’s delivery and flicked the ball past Lee Burge.

Arsenal’s evening got even better as Charlie Patino marked his debut with a late goal.

The teenager, who came on as a substitute, ran into the box and cushioned Pepe’s delivery home.

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