Leeds United star Jaidon Anthony has told the latest episode of the club’s official podcast that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah played a key role in his career – having spent time at Arsenal’s academy together.
Anthony, 23, joined Leeds on deadline day on loan from Bournemouth in a swap deal with Luis Sinisterra. He has since made three sub outings in our last three games – scoring in Saturday’s win over Watford.
The winger has joined Leeds from Bournemouth – but only joined Bournemouth in 2016. He spent his entire academy era with Arsenal, joining the Gunners aged seven and remaining for an entire decade.
Nketiah of course, spent the first half of the season in which Leeds gained promotion to the Premier League. He scored five goals in 19, starting four times. Anthony will be hoping for more game time.
Anthony was asked about the current players that helped his development and he mentioned both Emile Smith-Rowe and Reiss Nelson – before going into depth about how he and Nketiah leaned on eachother.
“It is a massive club. The perfect place for me to grow. A lot of staff I could lean on. Ethan Ampadu’s dad was one of my favourite coaches. At my age, Emile Smith-Rowe and Reiss Nelson, they’re unbelievable.
“Eddie Nketiah helped me so much. I was U16, he was first-year scholarship – we were on the bench a lot and we used to lean on eachother, keep eachother going. Having an unbelievable time at Arsenal.”
Leeds star Anthony says Nketiah played key role in his career
Nketiah struggled at Leeds really, and when finally about to get his chance under Marcelo Bielsa, he picked up an injury. A shame because Nketiah is obviously a player with plenty of talent and potential.
Had he remained at Leeds for the 19-20 season, and then helped us go up – he might have ended up signing for Leeds permanently. Instead, he went back to Arsenal and Leeds signed Jean-Kevin Augustin.
Great move, that.
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