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Alan Shearer has questioned whether Eddie Nketiah will ever reach the \u2018elite\u2019 level after watching the Arsenal striker struggle during Sunday\u2019s win at Everton.<\/p>\n
Arsenal news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
Despite the return to full fitness of Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Arteta opted to retain faith in the 24-year-old who recently received his first call-up to the England senior squad.<\/p>\n
The Gunners enjoyed the overwhelming majority of possession at Goodison Park, but struggled to find a cutting edge with Nketiah largely swamped by Everton\u2019s commanding central defenders.<\/p>\n
Nketiah was guilty, meanwhile, of failing to get back into an onside position for Gabriel Martinelli\u2019s disallowed 20th minute goal which may well have led to a far more straightforward afternoon.<\/p>\n
As it was, Arsenal were forced to wait until 20 minutes from time to break the deadlock with Leandro Trossard providing the decisive moment shortly after Nketiah had been replaced by Jesus. <\/p>\n
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Assessing the Hale End Academy graduate\u2019s display, Shearer told Premier League Productions: \u2018I think we\u2019ll continue to have the discussion to say is he elite? <\/p>\n
\u2018Is he the top drawer striker that perhaps Arsenal need to go to that next level. <\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019ll keep asking those questions because it\u2019s important when he gets the opportunity, like he has done again today and the manager says I\u2019m having belief in you and I\u2019m putting you in again then he has to take those opportunities. <\/p>\n
\u2018Today I just thought there were two or three occasions, one being the disallowed goal, there was a couple in that second half where I\u2019m thinking come on, get on the end of it get in that six-yard box and get that tap in that all great strikers do and it was just a split second where he was slow. <\/p>\n
\u2018Until he keeps doing or does that questions are still going to be asked.\u2019<\/p>\n