Eddie Nketiah had a special afternoon on Saturday. The 24-year-old Arsenal forward scored a hattrick in the Premier League for the first time in his career and played a significant role in The Gunners' comfortable victory over Sheffield United.
Nketiah revealed after the match that he had an emotional reason to dedicate the three goals to someone. 'My aunt passed away last month, and this hattrick was for her. The family was in the stands, so this was a very special moment. It hasn't been easy, so this was amazing to experience.'
In a conversation with Arsenal's club channel, Nketiah also expressed his pride when he received the captain's armband. Bukayo Saka came off, handing over the captaincy to him. 'That was a dream come true. Arsenal is my club, I've been a fan since I was a kid. To be the captain and lead the team, I'm very proud of that.'
Nketiah added on the BBC that he was actually supposed to take the penalty that resulted in the 4-0 in the closing stages. 'I was going to take it, but Fabio Vieira is expecting a child soon. I wanted him to have the moment with his family.'
Manager Mikel Arteta had high praise for Nketiah. 'This is fantastic for him. He's come through the youth ranks here and is now getting to experience scoring a hattrick in the Premier League. He should just enjoy this and he fully deserves it. Hopefully, there's more to come. Eddie needs minutes and opportunities. When he gets them, he scores and shows what he's capable of. He's a great player for Arsenal.'
