Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah was overjoyed after scoring a hat-trick in the Premier League for the first time in his career as Mikel Arteta’s side beat Sheffield United 5-1.
The Gunners dominated proceedings at the Emirates Stadium with the 24-year-old finding the net three times within the first hour of the game. Fabio Vieira scored a late penalty before Takehiro Tomiyasu added a fifth deep into injury time.
“It’s amazing,” he told BBC Match of the Day. “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.”
He continued: “These games are about patience, not losing discipline. For the first goal, it was a good ball from [Declan Rice] and a lovely touch and finish from myself.
“The second, I thought it was clean to go but it is never nice when the purple VAR screen turns up. The third was amazing, a great strike and a special moment.”
Nketiah could have become just the third Arsenal player to score four goals in a Premier League game when the side were awarded a late spot kick, but the Englishman let youngster Vieira take it instead, continuing the team’s trend of rotating penalty takers.
“My first instinct was to grab the ball and go, but Fabio won it and it was a good moment. It’s all about being a team player. it was his time to get a chance and he tucked it away.”
Arsenal now sit second in the Premier League table having closed the gap to table toppers Tottenham to just two points. Sheffield United, meanwhile, are bottom of the standings with no wins in 10 games.
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