Arsenal starlet Eddie Nketiah has the potential to be ‘one of the best strikers in the world’ according to former teammate Charlie Gilmour. 

Gilmour - now with Norwich City following his release by the Gunners last summer - played with Nketiah for four years at youth level after the forward was let go by London rivals Chelsea in 2015. 

The 20-year-old Lewisham-born marksman has made an impact on the first-team under Mikel Arteta, having scored three goals in seven games since his return to the Emirates following a testing loan spell at Leeds United. 

In an exclusive interview with The Gooner, Gilmour revealed just how much Nketiah has improved and why he believes the striker can become one of the best in the world. 

“Eddie has improved so much. He was very good in the early days, but he's phenomenal now,” said Gilmour. 

“The progression he's made in just three or four years is unbelievable and I believe he can be one of the best strikers in the world. He can be whatever he wants to be.  

“His finishing his clinical, he loves scoring goals and he has the selfish instinct that all good strikers need to have.” 

Nketiah was sent on loan to Championship side Leeds last summer, with the expectation being that the youngster would gain valuable minutes and be a hit at Elland Road. 

Despite a bright start to his spell in Yorkshire – including a goal on his debut against Salford City in the League Cup – the striker found game time hard to come by, with manager Marcelo Bielsa often preferring Patrick Bamford ahead of the Gunners youngster. 

That lack of action saw the deal cut short in January, with Nketiah expected to head back out on loan to another Championship side. But he impressed new boss Arteta and quickly found himself battling Alexandre Lacazette to lead the line. 

His first-team involvement was a surprise to many, but ex-teammate Gilmour always had the belief that Nketiah was good enough to play in the Premier League. 

"I knew he had the ability to play at that level,” he told The Gooner. 

“Having trained with him for so many years, I know he would have gone straight into training and impressed the manager.  

“I feel like no matter what happened at Leeds, he would have played for Arsenal anyway because I know what he's capable of.” 

Gilmour also featured alongside the likes of Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka at youth level, with the trio now involved in the Arsenal first-team. 

The Scotland youth international is delighted to see his former teammates earn their chance and believes the former Hale End youngsters will provide a bright future for the club. 

“It's so good to see them doing well because I know how much ability they have,” said Gilmour.  

“I trained with them every day for years and it's so nice to see their hard work paying off.  

“I 100 per cent think they are future of Arsenal. They are young, exciting and having trained with them for so many years I know just how good they are and can be.” 

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