Eddie Nketiah cites Arsenal legends Ian Wright and Thierry Henry as pillars of support ahead of England debut while he’s now more able to speak to Harry Kane after he moved to Bayern Munich.
Poised for a possible England debut, Eddie Nketiah acknowledges the profound influence of Arsenal icons Ian Wright and Thierry Henry on his burgeoning career.
The 24-year-old striker, recently called up for England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, expresses his gratitude to the duo in a recent interview.
- Eddie Nketiah values the influence of Ian Wright and Thierry Henry as he gears up for his England senior debut.
- Nketiah reveals that Harry Kane’s transfer to Bayern Munich has facilitated better rapport among England strikers.
- Early career setbacks, including being released by Chelsea, have fuelled Nketiah’s ambition and resilience.
As he stands on the threshold of his England senior debut, Eddie Nketiah has the reassuring voices of two of Arsenal’s most cherished forwards to guide him: Ian Wright and Thierry Henry.
In a week that could mark a significant milestone in his career, Nketiah praises the influence of his mentors. “Thierry has been magnificent for me,” said Nketiah.
“I was coached by him as a first-year scholar at Arsenal at 16 and it was amazing – one of my best and most enjoyable seasons.
“I was able to bounce ideas off him and he gave me a lot of confidence. Still to this day when I see him he is still supportive and still really helpful.
“He came in and saw the quality I had when I was 16 or 17 and said that I just needed to believe in myself. It’s one of the best pieces of advice I’ve received. He knows what he’s talking about, so it’s not a bad feeling to hear that.
“I wear No14 on my shirt, which is always a number I’ve liked but Thierry wearing it for Arsenal made it a lot more special. When the number was available and offered to me, I embraced it.”
The respect Nketiah has for his mentors is clearly mutual.
“Ian Wright has also given me a lot of advice over the years and been supportive. I saw him at a photo shoot recently and we were talking about the start of the season, how well I have done. I am sure in time I will speak to him about playing for England too,” Nketiah added.
The striker, vying to be the understudy to Harry Kane, looks forward to learning from the seasoned England captain.
Kane’s recent move to Bayern Munich, easily accessible via GO Sport Travel, has, in Nketiah’s own words, “broken the ice a little,” facilitating easier communication between the two.
“It makes the conversation a little bit easier now he has made the move,” said Nketiah. “I might have a few notes in my phone of what to ask him about.
“I’ve had my first session so I’m sure I’ll be in his ear all week – getting tips and learning. It’s another great opportunity to improve and see what other top strikers do, how they prepare for games.
“It’s not just Harry. There are loads of great attacking players here. I can see what they do, notice the little things I do differently and try to steal a few things. It will be nice to experience.”