Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has opened up about his relationship with Arsenal’s new record-signing Declan Rice.
The pair had an altercation on the pitch a couple of seasons ago when Arsenal faced West Ham United at the London Stadium.
The altercation mentioned was in a game that Arsenal won 2-1 back in the 2021/22 season. The Gunners were leading in the dying minutes when Eddie Nketiah tried to waste a few more seconds by preventing Aaron Cresswell from taking a free-kick. West Ham captain, Declan Rice didn’t appreciate the gesture as the two squared up to each other and eventually lead to Rice grabbing Nketiah by the neck.
Words were exchanged but the pair were quickly separated before both players going into the book. However that moment doesn’t reflect their relationship off the pitch.
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Declan Rice and Eddie Nketiah are good mates as they were both together as kids in the Chelsea academy. When asked about his relationship with Arsenal’s new record-signing, Nketiah responded: “I’ve got a good relationship with Dec. We first played together with the under-nines, to under-14s at Chelsea.”
“I’m close to his family, he’s close to mine. It’s good to have him here. Hopefully he can remember how I like the passes played!”
“As you can imagine as kids we played a lot of games together, a lot of travelling. It’s funny how life works, we’re back here and playing for Arsenal and hopefully being able to do well together and achieve.”
“I’m really proud of the progress he’s made. Seeing him as a kid and the man he’s grown into now and I’m really happy to have him here.”
He also stated that their families are really close and that he believes Declan Rice is one of the missing pieces to competing the Arsenal puzzle which is set to take the club back to where they belong.
There is no denying that the team chemistry at Arsenal is at an all-time high and the addition of Declan Rice is only going to add to that with the upbeat leader he is.
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