Eddie Nketiah reveals Arsenal’s hopes for final weeks of the season

Eddie Nketiah is hopeful Arsenal can learn from their difficulties towards the end of last season to springboard to big achievements in the closing months of the current campaign.

Arsenal are in the mix for the Premier League title with Liverpool and Manchester City as the run-in intensifies, while they resume their Champions League campaign on Wednesday night with a last 16 clash in Porto.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are among the leading contenders to win both competitions and Nketiah, speaking at the launch event for Under Armour’s new boot, the UA Shadow Elite 2 in Shoreditch, London, insisted the quality in depth the team have, as well as their experience a year on from losing out on the title to Manchester City, will stand them in good stead this time around.

“We want to do well and we want to achieve things,” Nketiah said. “We’ve got a good group on and off the pitch, which really helps.

“We had an excellent start to the season, but we can do more, we can improve. We’re pushing each other to be the best versions of ourselves. Every experience you have you’re better for it. We’re all a year older – and with a year of more experience – so hopefully we can use what we learned from last season and apply it.

“There’s a lot of quality all over the pitch. We’ve got players competing for positions. That’s going to hold us in good stead as we get into the latter stages of the season. We’re in a good position, we just need to keep focussing game by game and hopefully we can do something special this year.

“Obviously I grew up supporting Arsenal and so did my family. Winning the title would mean everything.”

Nketiah modelled the new boots and Under Armour gear at the recent event, which gave athletes, creators, and media look into their future of football boots. Nketiah said he had worked closely with Under Armour during the creation process for the UA Shadow Elite 2, which benefits a player’s speed, agility, comfort and support. The 24-year-old wore the boots during Arsenal’s recent 5-0 win at Burnley.

Arsenal have won their last five games in all competitions, scoring an incredible 11 goals in their last two matches alone, and Nketiah gave a glowing account of manager Arteta for the improvement they’ve made under his guidance, crediting the Spaniard personally with improving aspects of his own game as a striker.

“It’s brilliant to have a manager that supports you so much. It’s almost like having a 12th man on the pitch,” Nketiah said of his manager.

“He pays a lot of attention in training, so for me that’s been great improving aspects of my game. Getting into the nitty gritty has really helped over the time I’ve worked with him. You feel his passion. With him on the sidelines he wants to play every ball with you.

“We’ve all got a great relationship with him and we always want to fight for him and the fans. The atmosphere at The Emirates has been electric this season. And that’s what we want – to connect with the fans and feel that energy.”

Arsenal’s trip to Porto in midweek will be followed up by a return to the Emirates and Premier League action on Saturday night, as they host Newcastle hoping to extend their winning run.

The Under Armour Shadow Elite 2 is on sale now with an RRP of £210 / €230 at underarmour.com. For more information on Under Armour’s commitment to football, follow @underarmourfc on Instagram.

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