Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has sparked controversy by claiming that departing Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah is not good enough to play for the Gunners. In an interview with talkSPORT, Agbonlahor stated that Nketiah’s skills are more suited to Crystal Palace, the team he has recently joined.
Nketiah, 25, is a product of Arsenal’s academy and has played 168 games for the senior team, scoring 38 goals and providing seven assists. However, Agbonlahor believes that the striker lacks the physicality, pace, and overall ability to play at the level required by Arsenal.
“I don’t think he is at the level where Arsenal are going,” Agbonlahor said. “I look at him and I see a striker who has got an eye for goal, but the other part of the game, holding the ball up, I don’t think he is strong enough, running in behind, I don’t think he is quick enough. I don’t think he is physical enough. I don’t think he is at Arsenal’s level. Crystal Palace – I think that’s the right level.”
The comments are likely to spark a heated debate among football fans, with some agreeing with Agbonlahor’s assessment and others defending Nketiah’s abilities. The striker will be keen to prove his worth at his new club and help Crystal Palace continue their improvement under manager Oliver Glassner.
With this move, Nketiah will be looking to establish himself as a key player for his new team and silence his critics. However, the question remains whether he has the talent and potential to succeed at a higher level. Only time will tell if Agbonlahor’s assessment is correct or if Nketiah can prove him wrong.
