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Nketiah has had to bide his time for senior recognition and by his own admission could have been forgiven for believing his moment might never come.<\/p>\n
Having started with Chelsea aged nine, Nketiah had to deal with being released at 16 \u2013 interestingly two years after current Arsenal and England teammate Declan Rice went through the same confidence draining process.<\/p>\n
Yet while Rice rose confidently through the ranks at West Ham, Nketiah continued to be battered by head winds at Arsenal, cast in a permanent role as understudy and farmed out for an underwhelming loan spell with Leeds in 2019-20 which hardly took him far away from England\u2019s radar.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think (being released) gives you an awakening and just knowing that things can change like that – that you can lose everything you have worked for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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DON’T MISS… <\/strong> \u201cI had to deal with a big setback but it makes you resilient. I know what it feels to be at the bottom and be out and I don\u2019t want to be back there. It gives you that extra bit of motivation and resilience when times are hard. I\u2019m able to dig a level deeper than maybe some people can or don\u2019t want to go into.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all part of the experience. Some boys might not have experienced it but then they will have had lows in their careers. This was my journey and it has helped me by who I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n Two goals in four games for Arsenal \u2013 grabbing the chance offered by Gabriel Jesus\u2019s injury and repaying Mikel Arteta\u2019s faith \u2013 has hauled him back into that England reckoning. The text confirming his selection was a moment that may have been predicted by Gunners\u2019 teammate Bukayo Saka, but it still took Nketiah by surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a bit emotional,\u201d he said of receiving the call up with his family and friends. \u201cIt was a pleasant surprise but one I have been working hard for not just this season but throughout the years. But step by step you get closer and closer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin Odegaard makes ‘difficult’ Arsenal admission as skipper details struggles[QUOTES] <\/strong>
Arsenal star Nketiah opens up on Jesus rivalry and sends message to Mikel Arteta[REACTION] <\/strong>
Sky Sports consider drastic action after Roy Keane ‘headbutted’ at Arsenal game[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4945185.jpg?r=1693947356978\")
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