William Saliba and Declan Rice react on Instagram after seeing what 24-year-old Arsenal player did last night
Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah marked his first appearance for the England national team in a match against Australia last evening, and several of his fellow players, such as William Saliba and Declan Rice, expressed their support for him on Instagram.
Throughout this season, the 24-year-old has consistently featured in Arsenal’s lineup.
He has demonstrated glimpses of his exceptional talent while wearing the iconic red and white jersey, which drew the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate.
Consequently, Southgate granted Nketiah the opportunity to make his debut for the national team last night.
William Saliba and Declan Rice react after Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah makes England debut
Achieving the dream of representing one’s country is a pinnacle for any footballer, and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah realized this dream with his England debut last night.
Nketiah, at 24 years old, still maintains the record for the highest number of goals scored at the U21 level for England, a testament to his potential to break into the senior squad.
While it took some time, Southgate included Nketiah in the squad during the previous international break, although he didn’t get a chance to play. Many did not anticipate his selection this time around, but Southgate continued to place his trust in the young striker.
Nketiah was once again included in the squad and finally made his debut as a substitute, replacing Ollie Watkins, whose goal ultimately secured the victory for England.
Following the game last night, Nketiah took to Instagram to celebrate, and several of his teammates, including Declan Rice and William Saliba, expressed their support using emojis. Here are a few of their reactions.
Eddie Nketiah has faced considerable criticism for his recent performances at Arsenal.
While he has consistently been a prolific goal scorer at the youth level, he has struggled to maintain that level of consistency when playing for the first team, for various reasons.
Nevertheless, it’s evident that Mikel Arteta has a significant amount of trust in him, and it appears that his England manager, Gareth Southgate, also believes in his ability to make a positive impact on the national team.
Nketiah certainly has more untapped potential, and with the right opportunities and development, he can hopefully fulfill the promise he showed during his youth career.
William Saliba and Declan Rice react on Instagram after seeing what 24-year-old Arsenal player did last night