Back up Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah ready to step into Gabriel Jesus’ shoes

Eddie Nketiah is ready to come to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta‘s rescue again and prove he is a ready-made replacement for injured star striker Gabriel Jesus.

Brazil forward Jesus has been the focal point of Arsenal’s attack and their rise to the top of the Premier League table after his summer signing from Manchester City.

Now he faces a possible three-month lay-off following knee surgery last week after returning early from the World Cup.

And homegrown star Nketiah claims he is ready to prove his critics wrong as he did last season and show he shares more than an identical goal celebration with his illustrious South American team-mate.

‘Of course, it is an opportunity for myself,’ Nketiah acknowledged. ‘These things happen in football, unfortunately, so you’ve just got to be ready for the moment when it comes.

‘I have been working hard, I’ve been working hard all season and I’m sure when I get the opportunity I’ll be able to come in and help the team.’

The Arsenal forward – despite signing a new deal last term – has found playing time this season difficult to come by

The 23-year-old English striker agreed to a new deal last season after a surprise run of five goals in seven games made him Arteta’s main front man after former skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure and Alex Lacazette’s decision to run his contract down.

The emergence of Jesus has again relegated Nketiah to a substitute role again this season and he went into the World Cup break without a Premier League goal to his name.

Now, after talking to Jesus, he is wants to remind people what he is capable of to show both he and Arsenal can maintain their title challenge after the winter break.

‘I spoke to him [Jesus] and wished him a speedy recovery. It is never nice to see anyone miss a World Cup and also for us as a team he is a big player, we are going to miss him. We are all behind him.’

Nketiah, who netted in a friendly against Watford last week, was speaking from Arsenal’s warm weather training camp after scoring again in an emphatic win over Lyon in the Dubai Super Cup.

Nketiah is looking to establish himself within manager Mikel Arteta’s plans as Arsenal look set to mount a title challenge when the domestic season returns

Arteta’s men next face AC Milan here on Tuesday and have a home game against Juventus before they resume Premier League action against West Ham on Boxing Day.

‘It is good to be back,’ Nketiah added. ‘Two games for us so far and two goals which is nice. We’ve done a nice bit of training and these games are a good test.“We had really good momentum going before the World Cup.

‘You can look at the break in two ways, it could be time for us to improve and get even stronger.

‘It would have been nice to keep it going but everyone here looks sharp and refreshed and the boys who have gone to the World Cup are doing well

‘When they join us we’ll come together and I’m sure we’ll kick on again and get even better.

‘The mentality here has been top from the beginning. The manager has instilled that in us and all the boys have belief and work hard every day. It is good to be in a great position, we’re hungry to do well.

‘Each win brings more confidence. If we keep going and working hard the way we have over the first half of the season it will do us well for the second half of the season.’