CHARLOTTE, N.C. Sporting Alert — Eddie Nketiah grabbed a brace to help Arsenal beat Fiorentina 3-0 in an International Champions Cup game at Bank of America Stadium Saturday evening.
The win was a third in succession for the Gunners, who have won two in as many games in the International Champions Cup.
Nketiah broke the deadlock for the English Premier League side when he used a clever dummy took his marker out of the game and then finished low in the 15th minute, following a cross by Sead Kolasinac from the left side.
The striker collected his second of the game shortly after the hour mark after he tucked home from close range, following a pass from Alex Lacazette, who had linked up well with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Midfielder Joseph Willock completed the scoring for Arsenal in the 89th minute when he fired high into the roof of the next after receiving a pass from Lacazette.
“I’m really happy [for Nketiah],” Arsenal manager Unai Emery said. “Last season in small moments when we could give him chances to be on the pitch, he did very well.
“I can confirm his progress and we want this progress with every player. Each player has the opportunity to show this capacity and above all first is a very good attitude.
“After this is that the young players need experience and they need to take minutes and to have confidence playing with us. The young energy is very important, especially Eddie Nketiah, he is playing and progressing very well.”
Asked about a loan move for him for last season, Emery said: “Last year in December we were thinking of loaning him to Germany.
“We decided he would stay with us to train and progress with us. We started this pre-season with the same idea as we finished last year – stay with us. And my idea is that if you progress like we are seeing from you, you can have a chance here for us.”
