Eddie Nketiah focuses on his personal story as he strives to impress England.
Eddie Nketiah maintains he never thought his chance to represent England had passed him by, despite the fact that Arsenal teammates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe had a head start on him on the international scene.
The 24-year-old, England’s all-time leading Under-21 goalscorer, has received his first senior call-up for the upcoming games against Ukraine and Scotland, but he is now ready to write his “own story” with Gareth Southgate’s side.
Nketiah debuted for Arsenal six years ago and last played for the Under-21s in 2021.
https://twitter.com/England/status/1699074929864659422?s=20
He has 34 goals in 136 games for Arsenal, beginning with a memorable home debut off the bench against Norwich, where he scored a brace to secure victory in an EFL Cup fixture.
Despite making a name for himself, Nketiah’s choices were confined to minor cup competitions, and a disastrous loan spell at Leeds in the Sky Bet Championship was considered as a setback.
Meanwhile, Saka and Smith Rowe were emerging as the next generation of Hale End academy stars, with the former becoming a particular favourite of England manager Gareth Southgate.
Eddie Nketiah focuses on his personal story as he strives to impress England.
When asked if he was worried about missing out on his own international opportunity, Nketiah said, “I’m still young.”
“Everyone’s journey is unique. In this day and age, everyone needs to focus on their own story and path rather than looking at others’. Our professional paths have been quite different. We’ve got several opportunities at various periods.
“I’ve always trusted God, trusted myself, and believed in the process step by step.” It may not always happen when you want it, but if you keep working hard and doing the right things, it will come.
Everyone’s journey is different. In this day and age everyone needs to focus on their own story and their own journey, not look at anyone else’s
Eddie Nketiah
“I am playing for a great club and a big club at Arsenal. These tough games will be a different and new experience but it is about doing as well as I can, showing my quality this week, and hopefully getting an opportunity to go out there and help the team.
“I think I am a much better player now than I was two or three years ago. It is really nice and I am coming in at a good time.
“I feel confident and I feel ready to continue to improve – that is the thing, I’m still young and humble enough to know I am not the finished article.
“Coming away with these players and being able to show my quality while learning from them is really good for me and (to) continue to take those steps in my career.”
Nketiah may have switched allegiances, with Ghana – his parents’ birthplace – putting out feelers to entice him to play for the Black Stars.
But when England called, the former Chelsea teenager believed he’d made the right choice.
I’m still young and humble enough to know I am not the finished article
He added: “I think obviously both sides were always an option.
“I think naturally coming through the academy at England, you have the aspiration to play here and once the call-up was there and the offer was on the table it was really hard to turn down, something which I felt was a natural progression for myself at this stage.
“I felt now was a good time to make that step so obviously I’m really happy to be here and proud to be here. Hopefully I can go on and help the team this week and get some caps.”
