‘Everyone trusts him’: Eddie Nketiah ‘will do his job amazingly’ in Gabriel Jesus’ absence – claims Oleksandr Zinchenko – with the injured Brazilian set for three months out amid fears over the club’s title hopes
Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has backed ‘amazing’ Eddie Nketiah to fill the void left by injured Gabriel Jesus.
Gunners legend Paul Merson said he feared for Arsenal’s Premier League title prospects if they’re forced to rely on Nketiah while Jesus is out injured.
While Mikel Arteta’s side can move eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table if they beat West Ham on Boxing Day, Merson thinks they’ll struggle to even make the top four without properly replacing the Brazilian.
Eddie Nketiah is Arsenal’s only recognised centre forward in Gabriel Jesus’s absence
But Zinchenko said his team-mates had every confidence in the 23-year-old.
‘I have no doubts that Nketiah is going to do his job amazingly and everyone trusts him,’ the Ukraine international told Arsenal’s official website.
‘We have such a great group of people. We have this feeling of togetherness. As a team, we need to stick together.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus posted this Instagram snap of himself on crutches in London
‘He [Jesus] is one of the leaders in our team. He’s a true warrior. I have no doubts he’ll be back much stronger than before, knowing him personally and knowing his character.’
Arteta has acknowledged the club would have to be ‘active’ in the January window.
The Gunners are in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk over 21-year-old forward Mykhaylo Mudryk but the Ukrainian club are reluctant to sell.
Paul Merson suggested that even bottom club Wolves would turn down Nketiah
In the meantime, Nketiah, who has scored 26 times in 111 Arsenal appearances, is their only recognised centre forward option.
Merson, however, believes not even bottom club Wolves would play Nketiah.
‘It’s a massive worry for Arsenal that they’re now relying on an out-of-form Eddie Nketiah when the Premier League returns,’ he wrote in the Daily Star.
‘They could go eight points clear if they beat West Ham before Manchester City play a game and you still wouldn’t fancy them to win the title without Gabriel Jesus.
‘It’s hard because even though he doesn’t score an awful lot of goals, he is still so effective. If he’s out for three months, I’d be shocked if they got in the top four.
‘Without being horrible, what Premier League team does Eddie Nketiah get in? Wolves are bottom for instance, they’re desperate for a goal and they wouldn’t go and get him.’
Merson added: ‘Jesus has just been too influential in the first few months of the season, I just don’t see how they get by without him.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has backed ‘amazing’ Nketiah to fill the void left by injured Jesus
‘With Arsenal, their depth isn’t quite good enough but all their best players have played virtually every game. Now all of a sudden, it’s a panic.’
Jesus signed from Manchester City over the summer and has scored five goals and assisted a further seven in all competitions so far.
The Brazilian striker posted an Instagram picture of himself walking on crutches after he returned to London, with the caption: ‘Progressing.’
Arsenal return to action against West Ham on Boxing Day before travelling to Brighton on New Year’s Eve and hosting Newcastle United on January 3.
