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Didier Drogba has urged Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson to keep working hard ahead of his side's clash with Arsenal amid a topsy-turvy debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Jackson, 22, was wasteful in Mauricio Pochettino's side's 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals last Saturday (April 20). He spurned three opportunities including one big chance.
The Senegalese frontman received criticism after that defeat at Wembley. It's been a difficult start to his Chelsea career in which he's managed 13 goals and five assists in 37 games across competitions.
Drogba knows what it takes to lead the line for the west London giants. The iconic Ivorian is the club's third all-time top scorer with 164 goals in 381 games.
The four-time Premier League champion sent a message on X (formerly Twitter) to the under-fire Jackson as he prepares to face league leaders Arsenal tonight (April 23):
"Keep your head High UP and never stop working hard, it will pay off [praying emoji and blue heart emoji]."
Drogba's words came after Pochettino defended the seven-cap Senegal international by namedropping the legendary former striker. The Argentine coach said (via football.london):
"The players here to match the icon players here like Drogba, if we compare with Drogba, yes he is always going to lose, but if we split the history of the club from the team and the performance of Jackson, I think he is doing fantastic. He is going to have all of my support."
Jackson joined Chelsea from La Liga side Villarreal last summer for £30 million. He arrived at Stamford Bridge during the club's period of transition that has them sitting ninth in the league. Pochettino's Blues face an Arsenal side who top the league on goal difference and are pinning their trophy hopes on the title.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino comments on racist abuse Nicolas Jackson suffered ahead of Arsenal clash
Nicolas Jackson suffered racist abuse on social media after Chelsea's loss to City in the FA Cup. The Premier League giants condemned the racism received by the striker in a statement on their X account.
Pochettino was asked about the situation ahead of his side's encounter with Arsenal at the Emirates. The Argentine explained how people hide behind social media (via football.london):
"I think we all suffer, all public people in football because people hide behind social media. Of course we need to be there. Social media is a good way to communicate with the good fans. But people who hide behind social media. That cannot be a reference of what the people think."
Jackson isn't the only Premier League star to be racially abused online in recent years. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka received online racism after missing a penalty in a 2-2 draw with West Ham United in April last year.
