BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Pablo Mari of Arsenal FC looks on prior to the Premier League 2 match between Arsenal FC U23s and Chelsea FC U23s at Meadow Park on February 17, 2020 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta praises Pablo Mari and Eddie Nketiah

Mar 3, 2020

Mikel Arteta was happy with what he saw from Pablo Mari and really impressed with Eddie Nketiah against Portsmouth as Arsenal made their way into the next round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win on Monday night.

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Pablo Mari of Arsenal celebrates after his teammate Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their team's first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) — PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – MARCH 02: Pablo Mari of Arsenal celebrates after his teammate Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Arsenal (not pictured) scored their team’s first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Portsmouth FC and Arsenal FC at Fratton Park on March 02, 2020 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Goals from Sokratis and Eddie Nketiah ensured Arsenal would be in the hat for the next round and speaking after the game, Arteta was asked about Mari’s debut.

“I think he looked comfortable,” said Mikel Arteta. “He is very vocal and very comfortable on the ball, always commanding the back four and he looked like he’s played here for months. I think we have a good player.”

Arteta then spoke about Eddie Nketiah who scored his third goal for the club since returning from Leeds who deemed him not good enough to start in the Championship.

Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah (2R) celebrates scoring their second goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Portsmouth and Arsenal at Fratton Park stadium in Portsmouth, southern England, on March 2, 2020. — Arsenal’s English striker Eddie Nketiah (2R) celebrates scoring their second goal during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Portsmouth and Arsenal at Fratton Park stadium in Portsmouth, southern England, on March 2, 2020. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

“He has been phenomenal,” added Arteta. “The workrate that he puts in, the rhythm that he goes into pressing, his understanding of the game – when to come and when to go in behind – and always in front of goal, he is ready to score.”

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