Is Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah living a double life as viral masked rapper 'Dide'?

'Dide'

Masked rapper 'Dide' has taken the English footballing world by storm, with no one able to identify which Premier League football player he is.

Picture – YouTube @Sky Sports Premier League

'Thrill'

The rapper blew up in the music scene at the beginning of this year, releasing a song called 'Thrill' which has over five million streams on Spotify.

Picture – YouTube @Sky Sports Premier League

'Footballer on the pitch'

The drill rapper has teased fans with his lyrics on several songs and has the Instagram bio of 'Rapper at home, footballer on the pitch.'

Picture – YouTube @Sky Sports Premier League

Potential players

There have been reports of many players being the highly talented rapper, with Bukayo Saka, Michail Antonio, Reiss Nelson, and Alex Iwobi all seen as potential footballers behind the mask.

'Organically happened'

According to sky.com, 'Dide' said: "Obviously we made the decision [to be anonymous] and we ran with it. It kind of organically happened. Nothing was thought out to trick people."

Picture – YouTube @Sky Sports Premier League

'Not a marketing trick'

"The main thing for me is the music rather than the football player. I guess fans and the public ran with all these different opinions, which is cool. But it was not a marketing trick."

Picture – YouTube @Sky Sports Premier League

It's Eddie Nketiah

Despite the clear anonymous look and lots of speculation, it can be pieced together that the rapper is Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.

Same build

For a start, 'Dide' is around 5ft10, and Arsenal striker Nketiah is listed at 5ft11. The Arsenal striker also has a slender build just like the rapper.

Dide = Eddi

Some theories suggest that 'Dide' is an anagram for 'Eddi' (Eddie) and on top of the anagram in a music video is Nketiah's signature 'ringing the phone' celebration.

Lyrics

The lyrics used in his songs give away that he plays for Arsenal, referring to Arsenal's battle with Manchester City and saying, 'Every game is like a final.'

'Derby Day'

The rapper also released a track called 'Derby Day' and made references to former Tottenham legend Paul Gascoigne. The lyrics, 'If I intercept and I'm 20 yards out then I'm pulling the trigger' suggest he is a striker who plays in the North London derby.

Changing rooms

In a recent interview, the rapper stated that the best changing room he had been in was Manchester City's and the worst was Luton Town.

Nketiah at Leeds

The only Premier League clubs to have played at Luton Town this year are Tottenham, West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves, but Nketiah did play for Leeds United in the 2019-2020 season, the season both Leeds and Luton played in the Championship.

Favourite player

His lyrics reference London as the 'Big Smoke', indicating he is from the capital. Additionally, he has expressed admiration for Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, suggesting a connection to the team.

‘We get criticized’

According to sky.com, 'Dide' said: "Every game we get criticized, when we win, when we draw, whether you play bad, whether you play good. Adding something outside of football is just adding more [potential for] Criticism."

'Football is 100%'

"It was easy for me to make that decision to try and keep the music separate. And, you know, they're two different things. My effort and my concentration towards football is 100%."