Redknapp reveals the reason Arteta prefers Nketiah ahead of Lacazette and Aubameyang

Jamie Redknapp has stated that the Mikel Arteta is selecting Eddie Nketiah ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front for Arsenal because of his impressive workrate.

According to the former Tottenham coach, he thinks that Nketiah’s ability to press from the front – which led to his opener against Southampton following an error from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy – has seen him get the nod ahead of Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette – who was left on the bench.

The 21 years and Joe Willock goals handed Arsenal a 2-0 win against the Saints which is their first since the league restarted.

Redknppp told Sky Sports: ‘Work from the front, chase things down… It took a little while for Aguero to buy into it and I don’t know if Aubameyang at this age will be that striker still, especially if he doesn’t want to be at the club and he wants to go.

‘He thinks with Nketiah – he works hard for the team. It’s a midfielder’s dream, it’s a defender’s dream, when someone is just pickpocketing balls around the pitch and winning balls back. It’s fantastic.

‘And he gets his reward. It’s not good goalkeeping, it’s not good from the defender as well.

‘But a lot of strikers would just leave it, they wouldn’t bother chasing lost causes, he did it and deserved that goal for that reason.’