London, June 19 (BNA) – The Premier League club said that young striker Eddie Nkeitia will wear Arsenal’s iconic No. 14 shirt next season after signing a long-term contract.
The 23-year-old joined Arsenal as a teenager and made 92 first-team appearances and scored 23 goals, Reuters reports.
However, it was only last season that Nketiah began making his place in Arsenal’s attack himself, scoring five goals in his last eight Premier League games.
The contract is a reward for his level and handing him a 14 shirt, the number worn by the club’s player Thierry Henry, which shows the confidence of coach Mikel Arteta in him.
Theo Walcott and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also wore a 14.
“I am happy that Eddie is staying with us,” Arteta said. “He represents everything we are about and all the values of the club.”
“We are very happy that he has extended his contract and now we have to start working and continue to develop the incredible talent and personality that we have in him.”
Nketiah, who has risen up the rankings with Arsenal after the departures of experienced forwards Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, is hoping he can follow his teammates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe on the England side.
He has yet to win a major Premier League title, but he is the top scorer in the history of the England Under-21 team with 16 goals in 17 games.