DBasia.news – Arsenal’s absence in European competition was used properly to focus on playing domestic matches. In the 2021-2022 League Cup, the Gunners successfully penetrated the semifinals.
Playing at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday (22/12) early morning WIB, Arsenal managed to beat Sunderland with a landslide score of 5-1 through a hat-trick of goals from Eddie Nketiah (17′ 49′ 58′), Nicolas Pepe (27′), and Charlie Patino (90+1′) which was reduced by Nathan Broadhead’s goal in the 31st minute.
Despite the rotation, Mikel Arteta’s team remained dominant with 69 percent possession and released 19 attempted kicks (10 on target). Arsenal to the League Cup semifinals and in their last two chances of qualifying for the semifinals, Arsenal always reached the final in the 2010-2011 and 2017-2018 seasons.
“Very good (Arsenal’s performance). We qualified for the semi-finals we wanted. We decided to rotate quite a bit today and it took some time in the first half to get that cohesion,” Mikel Arteta told the club’s official website.
“We scored two good goals but after that we lacked something. We got more control in the second half and scored some beautiful goals too,” he added.
Eddie Nketiah, Fantastic
Nketiah’s contract (22 years) expires at the end of this season and Arteta hopes to have his contract extended by Arsenal. The reason is that although he rarely plays, Nketiah shows good performance every time he appears and has great talent.
“I tell you every day that we want to keep Eddie. We see how he trains, that’s what he does every day, he works really hard and puts the ball into the goal every training session. I’m very happy with him. Whenever we need him he always responds,” explained Nketiah.
“We’re trying. It’s not about anything other than minutes. He wants game time, he wants to be on that pitch and that’s the only reason to say, ‘Can I do it here?’ That’s the question. We all want him to stay.”
Against Sunderland Nketiah’s stats are 41 touches, 17 passes, six kicks (most), four tackles, four shots on target (most), three goals and three fouls.
For the first time also Nketiah carved his first hat-trick for Arsenal at senior level. In addition, Nketiah has also scored 10 goals from nine matches in the League Cup, making him a tournament favourite.
“It’s amazing. It’s great to qualify for the next round, and it’s definitely fun to score a hat-trick in the process,” said Nketiah.
“I’m really grateful to my team-mate for the assist, and grateful to be out there contributing.”
“A different feeling (for my debut against Norwich) but that night will always live long as a special memory. It’s another one to add to the collection and definitely nice to get my first senior hat-trick and now I’m looking to contribute and getting hungry.”
Nketiah’s performance was like an oasis in the desert for Arsenal looking for a striker, when their mainstay striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had disciplinary issues and was stripped of the captain’s armband.