EDDIE NKETIAH underlined his importance to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta by scoring a welcome hattrick in Gabriel Jesus’s absence against Sheffield United last night.

With the Brazil striker ruled out for a “few weeks” due to a hamstring injury he picked up near to the end of his excellent performance during the Gunners 2-1 victory over Seville in the Champions League on Tuesday, Nketiah displayed his goalscoring talents to his manager on Saturday.

Nketiah put Arsenal ahead on 28 minutes after taking Declan Rice’s ball into the box on the turn, before coolly slotting past Blades keeper Wes Foderingham.