Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah still has a long, long way to go

Eddie Nketiah rescued Arsenal with a scintillating performance and two goals in the Carabao Cup win against Norwich on Tuesday night. To be a regular first-team contributor, however, the 18-year-old still has a long, long way to go.

Arsenal overcame Norwich City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup thanks to some late-game heroics from Eddie Nketiah. Who would have thought that?

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After 84 minutes of somewhat drab and dreary action, Nketiah was introduced as one last, hopeful roll of the dice. 15 seconds later, he had poked the ball into the back of the net from edge of the six-yard box after Francis Coquelin did well to flick on Theo Walcott’s inswinging, near-post corner.

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But Nketiah was not finished. In extra-time, from another Walcott corner, the 18-year-old burst across his marker, darted towards the goal, and powered a header past Angus Gunn from a similar position to his first goal. After the game, Arsene Wenger heralded the impact the Nketiah had, stating that he hopes he can now progress to have a long career at Arsenal:

"“I brought him on because we needed to score goals and he can score goals. I knew he had quality, but when the team need you and you deliver, that’s another quality you don’t know about until you go on to the pitch. I’m impressed to think that he was not even conceived when I was already here! But it’s good as well because life gives chances to young people. Hopefully, he’ll have a long career at Arsenal <…> I can’t remember a young player having such an impact in a game like that. Until he came on we lacked ideas and creativity.”"

And that is certainly the aim for Nketiah. He is an Arsenal fan, has always dreamt of scoring for the senior side, and has hopes of a career with the club. But, unfortunately, the development of young players is tempestuous, unpredictable, and frustrating. There are no guarantees.

For however brilliant Tuesday night was for Nketiah, and it was — that is a point that should not be forgotten or overlooked –, the goal of a long-term career at the Emirates is something that is still very much in the balance.

There have been many talented players come through the Gunners’ youth ranks. Some have made it; most haven’t. The competition that exists in the senior ranks is fierce. Because of the increased demands of the fans, the media, and the board, success, and instant success at that, is required, even from a manager as entrenched and protected as Wenger, though some may argue over their definition of ‘success’. With such demands come spending. With spending, comes competition.

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Nketiah is a wonderfully uplifting story, and I do not want to be the downer on the whole situation. But there is an element of realism that must also be applied here. He still has a very long way to go. Let’s hope he can make it.