Oleksandr Zinchenko says the entire Arsenal squad have faith in Eddie Nketiah ahead of their Premier League clash with West Ham on Boxing Day.
Arsenal can extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points when they play their first competitive match since the end of the World Cup.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side are without their star forward Gabriel Jesus, who picked up a knee injury while playing for Brazil in Qatar.
The injury will keep the 25-year-old out for the next three months, and many have tipped the Gunners to struggle in his absence given just how crucial he has been to their campaign so far.
It all means that back-up striker Nketiah will be stepping in to lead the line for the foreseeable future, and while a talented player, there are serious doubts over whether he can keep Arsenal’s title charge going.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson recently expressed his worry over the 23-year-old who is yet to find the back of the net in the league this season.
But Zinchenko has no such fears and believes the team is now more united than ever before as they push for the Gunners’ first Premier League title in 19 years.
‘I have no doubts that Nketiah is going to do his job amazingly and everyone trusts him,’ the Ukraine international told Arsenal’s official website.
‘We have such a great group of people. We have this feeling of togetherness. As a team, we need to stick together.
‘He [Jesus] is one of the leaders in our team. He’s a true warrior. I have no doubts he’ll be back much stronger than before, knowing him personally and knowing his character.’
Since moving from Manchester City to the Emirates in the summer, Zinchenko has struggled with injuries but the left-back/midfielder has spent the World Cup break recovering to full fitness, and he is confident his side can deal with the gruelling festive fixtures.
The 26-year-old added: ‘What I’ve seen in the past, if you have the right attitude and the right behaviour on and off the pitch, you can’t be tired physically. You can be only tired in the head – everything is coming from your head.
‘If you do all the things right in your routine – your sleep, your food, look after yourself well -and you do everything to prepare your body fresh. If you do everything right, you can’t be tired physically.’
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