Arsenal receive new Eddie Nketiah boost as interesting England moment spotted

For any player, a call-up to represent their national team is one of their proudest achievements across their entire career. Growing up, millions of boys and girls have kicked and will continue to kick their footballs against a wall with a chalked on goal, screaming out their own surnames and pretending that they're the ones that have scored the goal to win England the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

I know I used to do it, and perhaps the person reading this did too. And I'd bet my bottom dollar that almost every single player in Gareth Southgate's current England set-up did the same. After all, it's a privilege to play for your country, to represent your nation. It's a distinction that separates you - the great - from the good.

Don't take my word for it, take current England captain Harry Kane's. The all-time top goalscorer for his nation highlighted just how much his debut meant to him, a game which saw him come off the bench to score after just 79 seconds in a 4-0 win over Lithuania back in 2015.

Kane said: "I knew a few of the players already, but I think I'm quite easy to get with hopefully so I've settled in quite well. All the players have welcomed me and been fantastic, and I just want to get in and start training, start playing really.

"Every time I go away with England, it's a proud moment for me and to make my first training session with the seniors was a very special moment for me and yeah, I'm really proud of it."

Last week, the video released by the England team of Chelsea star Levi Colwill and Arsenal player Eddie Nketiah receiving their caps was interesting. First up was Colwill, who is called up to the front by Southgate to receive his cap and the moment is sealed with a handshake while a slight smile can be seen on his face as he sits back down.Then it's Nketiah's turn. He seems rather muted, going up to Southgate with no smile and just takes his cap, offers a shoulder for Southgate to quickly wrap his arm round before sitting straight back down. Southgate even highlights his prior achievements before calling him up by saying: "Eddie - top scorer with the Under-21s. Your first senior cap, many congratulations!"

Many online pointed out the strange interaction, but he was pictured posing with a smile with his cap afterward. Just over a month ago, the star was full of emotion when asked about it, with the reaction perhaps down to trying to keep his feet on the ground and stay calm in front of his team-mates.

"It was surreal," he told the England media team after the squad was announced. "I'm usually a calm guy, but I did lose a bit of composure for a second. It was an amazing moment.

"All my family were really emotional. It has been a long journey, and I've worked really hard to get to this point so it's nice to receive that recognition. I can't remember what I exactly said. I don't think I said much. I was just looking at my phone, just checking every detail to make sure it was correct.

"It was really nice. My parents were really emotional because they sacrificed a lot for me to get here. Seeing their happiness and the pride on their faces was special. It was a special moment to be able to share with them."

Mikel Arteta will be no doubt pleased with how his star has performed so far this season, with him opening the club's account in the 2023/24 campaign on the opening weekend against Nottingham Forest. Now with him bringing an England appearance back to the Emirates Stadium with him after the international break, the Gunners could continue their rampant form with a win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

And Nketiah will be fresh for the game with the 24 year-old left out of the England squad to face Italy in a European Championships qualifier on Tuesday with the player expected to return to Arsenal now.