28 October 2023 , 17:40
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Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah dedicated his first Premier League hat-trick to his auntie, who died last month.
The academy graduate returned to the starting line-up on Saturday against Sheffield United, with fellow striker Gabriel Jesus ruled out through injury. He broke the deadlock against the relegation battlers before adding Arsenal's second and third, with Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu also on target in a 5-0 victory.
Nketiah's treble made him the fifth different player to score a Premier League hat-trick this season after Erling Haaland (twice), Son Heung-min, Evan Ferguson and Ollie Watkins. It also helped Mikel Arteta's side close the gap to league leaders Tottenham, who beat Crystal Palace on Friday night,
"It's amazing," Nketiah told Match of the Day after his hat-trick. "It's not been easy - last month I lost my auntie so I want to dedicate these three goals to her. Her family were here watching so it is a really special moment."
"These games are about patience, mot losing discipline. For the first goal, it was a good ball from Dec [Rice] and a lovely touch and finish from myself.
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"The second, I thought it was clean to go but it is never nice when see the purple VAR screen turns up. The third was amazing, a great strike and a special moment."
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Eddie Nketiah scored Arsenal's first three goals against Sheffield United (Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock)Nketish could have had a fourth, had he opted to take the penalty awarded to the Gunners inside the final five minutes. Instead, though, he handed the ball to Vieira to allow the Portuguese star to score his first goal in more than 12 months.
"My first instinct was to grab the ball and go, but Fabio won it and it was a good moment," Nketiah added. "It's all about being a team player. it was his time to get a chance and he tucked it away."
Nketiah's goals were his first since the 2-2 draw with Fulham in August, bringing his tally for the season up to five. It also helped preserve Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season, though their 24-point tally is three short of the number they had at the same stage last season.
Arsenal are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to face West Ham in the Carabao Cup. After that comes a trip to St James' Park to face a Newcastle side who have won their last three home league games without conceding a goal.