• Eddie Nketiah was once Arsenal’s bright young hope

• That was until a failed loan spell saw the striker’s star fade

• The revived forward now continues the legacy of the club’s famed number 14 jersey 

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Still young and yet to firmly establish himself as a Premier League star, Eddie Nketiah’s career to date has already taken many turns.

As a teen who scored regularly for Arsenal’s academy he was viewed as the club’s next-big-thing, a prolific finisher who Arsene Wenger believed could take on the mantle of becoming the Gunners’ primary centre-forward for seasons to come.

In his second cameo appearance for the first team, aged just 18, the boy from Lewisham upset the football betting odds by scoring after just 15 seconds before slotting home a late winner for good measure. The hype appeared to be justified.

Only then a prolonged loan spell at Leeds stalled all momentum, even if there were bright moments at Elland Road with Marcelo Bielsa describing him after one particularly impressive performance as a ‘complete player’.

📖 @EddieNketiah9 check:

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Alas, a mere three goals in 17 outings diminished his reputation as a goal-scorer.

A return to the Emirates followed and to the surprise of some, the forward has been granted a second lease of life in an Arsenal jersey by Mikel Arteta, coming to the fore last season largely due to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure and Alexandre Lacazette’s struggles in front of goal.

All told, Nketiah only notched five times yet ironically it was his lack of goals that in a roundabout way most impressed his coach because reputedly, the Spaniard had marked Nketiah down solely as a poacher and he had no requirement for one of those in his grand project.

A willing runner blessed with clever movement and speed of thought however, he very much could work with.

Still, the promising striker’s restored status played out to the backdrop of a contract dispute, and it was generally believed that he was leave North London this summer.

At least now, after reminding one and all of his abilities, a move to a Premier League outfit beckoned, rather than dropping into the Championship.

But then came the latest twist, with the player staying after signing a long-term deal and just when that news was being processed it was revealed that Nketiah was to be given the number 14 shirt. It’s hard to say which development surprised more.

The number 14 jersey is a fabled one for Arsenal, it once being worn with rare distinction by Thierry Henry, their club legend and a leading figure in their great Invincibles team.

In more recent times it’s a number that adorned the back of Aubameyang as he scored for fun, prior to his stint with the Gunners turning sour. It was also the number requested by Nketiah at Leeds, in homage to his hero Henry.

So, the question now is, can he do justice to it and the first point to acknowledge is that the arrival of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City this summer should not hinder his progress at all.

The Brazilian is a direct replacement for Lacazatte and even when the French forward made 30 appearances last term, Nketiah still grabbed plenty of game-time. The two are not in direct competition.

The second point meanwhile is really several points compiled to make a complete package. At 23, the player is ready to ignite, to finally show what he’s made of and comprehensively so.

Having learned his craft under Bielsa he is multifaceted now, no longer a one-dimensional hit-man. And Arteta is a fan, so much of a fan in fact that it was his heavy persuasion that resulted in Nketiah staying put.

Regarding winning the title, the Premier League betting odds for Arsenal this year are distant. The odds for Eddie Nketiah firmly establishing himself as a Premier League star are short. 

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Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood believes club chairman Daniel Levy is changing a habit of a lifetime this summer by landing players early in the transfer window, all to satisfy the ambitions of Antonio Conte.

"This is a very different tack to what I’ve seen before from Daniel.

"He normally leaves it very late in the window to do his business, so he gets value in the market, but Antonio has a good knack for getting what he wants from chairmen and why shouldn’t that be the case, when you look at the success he’s had as a player and how starved of success Spurs have been.

"When you have a manager like that coming in, calling the shots, you have to let him take the lead. So, Daniel has done the right thing even if ideally, he likes to leave it late. Here he’s said ‘Antonio, I’m going to back you’ and they have got their business done.

"That though comes with a lot of pressure and Antonio knows this. We’re unsure about what Chelsea will do and we’re totally unsure about Manchester United and how they will respond under Ten Hag.

"It’s there for Tottenham to cement that top four place year after year, like they did under Pochettino."

With several weeks remaining before the window shuts, the North London giants have already bagged five players who will significantly enhance their squad.

Sherwood reserves praise for Ivan Perisic for having the ‘right mentality’ while he insists Yves Bissouma will go up a level, surrounded by better players.

Yet it is the Brazilian star Richarlison who intrigues the ex-coach turned popular pundit the most, a forward he would very likely have targeted himself back when coaching in the top-flight.

"Whenever I watch him, I think how much I’d love to have him in my side. He runs tirelessly and chases things down. He can play up front on his own or play anywhere across the three. I think he’s a really, really good signing.

"Obviously, you have Harry Kane and Son who will want to play every minute of every game, and there is Kulusevski who has come in and done brilliantly. So, he’s going to have to fit in and prove to Antonio that he is worthy of a regular spot.

"As for his temperament, Antonio will handle that. He’s a good manager who deals well with men. He’s very honest with his group of players and that’s all you want as a player."

Mention of Son reminds Sherwood of the South Korean’s surprising omission from the PFA Team of the Year last month, after the 30-year-old scored 23 times last season, carving out nine assists for good measure. It is an oversight that still perplexes.

"He’s just a wonderful professional and he has magnificent ability and I’m telling you, every manager in the world would want him in their team.

"I don’t know why he is one of the most under-rated players, by his peers also. It baffles me. They know how good he is when they play against him but maybe it’s because there isn’t much razzmatazz around him.

"He just comes in, plays his football, does his job, and then goes home. You’re never going to read about him on the front pages.

"Son is an incredible player who works so hard, and it looks like he has a fantastic attitude. He’s an example to younger players and he must be a manager’s dream.

"His numbers are there to be counted and when Harry Kane is missing, he always steps up."

Sherwood’s time at Spurs was short-lived but memorable, with the ex-midfielder giving Harry Kane his first proper run in the first team, all while increasing the awareness of gilet bodywarmers ten-fold.

Sadly, a run of poor results eventually led to an inevitable conclusion.

It was a dismissal that took him to a second managerial position at Aston Villa and Sherwood’s thoughts on the state of play currently in the Midlands is interesting.

With present incumbent Steven Gerrard heavily backed by his board it seems the expectancy levels at Villa Park might be rising.

"When you’re a manager who has spent money then it comes with pressure, because the expectation of the board and owners who have given the money is that the team kicks on.

"I believe Stevie is a good manager who will get better with more experience and Villa will improve on what they did last year. Is that going to be good enough, a minor improvement? Only the decision-makers can tell us that."

While with the Villans, Sherwood facilitated the emergence of a promising young prospect by the name of Jack Grealish who last term arguably struggled to live up to his enormous price-tag on joining Manchester City.

Does he believe the England star now has a huge and defining campaign ahead of him?

"He is no shrinking violet and the bigger the pressure, the more he stands up. I believe he will improve and with Raheem Sterling leaving that offers up more game-time to Jack. He will relish that because he wants to play and loves his football.

"He’s got great ability and if he continues to listen on the training field to the best football manager I’ve ever seen he will improve his numbers, start running without the ball a little bit more, and put himself in more goal-scoring positions.

"He could have a great season and be a regular for Manchester City and that will further his claim with England."

After helping bring through Kane and Grealish, a theme appears to be developing here, and Sherwood was also around for the early days of another highly promising career, only this time the superstar-in-the-making was raising eyebrows across the city.

As a fellow midfielder himself, how does he rate the chances of Jude Bellingham becoming a generational talent?

"I knew Jude when he was a young boy with Birmingham. He decided to leave and it turned out to be a fantastic move to the Bundesliga.

"I’m not rubbishing the Bundesliga at all but it’s not the Premier League, especially when you’re playing for Dortmund or Bayern Munich, because you’ve always got the upper hand.

"So, I’d like to see him play a few games in the Premier League before I really nail my colours to the mast.

"Jude obviously has an incredible talent but it’s a false economy when you’re playing for one of the better teams in Germany. But he’s ticked every box up ‘til now.

"If he keeps his head down, doesn’t think that he’s reached his ceiling, and keeps wanting to develop and learn from each coach and team-mate then he could be one of the best midfield players we’re seen because he has all the tools."

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Steven Gerrard embarks on his first full season in Premier League management in 2022-23. Gerrard guided Aston Villa away from the relegation zone last term, but the Midlands club finished the season poorly with just two wins and three draws from their last 13 matches.

A non-factor in Premier League top four odds, a top half finish is the most reasonable ambition for Villa in 2022-23.

Along with Crystal Palace, Leicester and others, sports betting markets tab them as a mid-table side, likely heading for a placing between ninth and 13th.

Anything more would represent drastic overachievement, but this squad should have enough to stay away from the peril of the bottom three.

Exciting Window

There’s a lot to like about Villa’s transfer window to date. Matt Targett’s move to Newcastle became permanent, and other departures are minor.

Philippe Coutinho is at Villa Park long-term, while Diego Carlos arrived for almost £30 million. Ludwig Augustinsson is another option at left-back and Boubacar Kamara is a very exciting acquisition on a free. 

The combination of Carlos and Kamara should only enhance a defence which was already up in eighth in expected goals allowed last season.

Searching For Goals

Where the defence was solid, the attack was less so.

Newcastle and Wolves were the only teams in the top 16 to amass fewer expected goals in 2021-22 with Leon Bailey, Danny Ings and Emiliano Buendia all having a limited impact after arriving last summer.

There is hope the trio can contribute more this season, and Ollie Watkins remains a reliable goal threat. Of course, Coutinho is going to provide moments of magic.

It has been reported, however, that Gerrard would like a new striker before the season kicks off in August.

Where Can Villa Improve?

Consistency has to be the goal in 2022-23. Taking two points from the last four matches last season can be excused given that there was little to play for, but Villa were streaky in Premier League predictions all year long.

That’s partly the life of a mid-table team. Still, if they are to make a meaningful step up in Gerrard’s first full season in charge, Villa’s form needs to move away from the sharp peaks and troughs of 2021-22.

Aston Villa Prediction for 2022/23:

Villa fans will be eyeing a top half finish this season. They were ninth in the table from the day Gerrard was hired, and this should be a markedly improved squad with impressive signings and other players settling in.

The output of Villa’s attacking players last season means not many are among the best preseason tips, but there’s sufficient talent there for the group to be more productive having had a full preseason under Gerrard.

We can’t see Villa being roped into a relegation battle as they were in the first few weeks of 2021-22. There are enough other good teams to stop them notching a top half finish, though.

Aston Villa Premier League prediction: 11th 

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*