Mikel Arteta insists he is keen on Eddie Nketiah staying at the club beyond this season as the striker runs down his current deal with Arsenal.
Eddie Nketiah attracted plenty of interest in the summer, with Crystal Palace coming the closest to signing him. Arsenal’s fee demands coupled with the striker’s injury late in the pre-season meant a move never materialised, ensuring the forward remained at the Emirates.
As he runs down his Arsenal contract at the end of the season, many Premier League clubs are circling the striker again, hoping to make a cut-price move in January. However, considering former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future remains on uncertain terms heading into the winter window, Arteta might end up keeping Nketiah until the season concludes.
While he has not played regularly this term, Nketiah demonstrated his prowess in the penalty box by scoring a hattrick as the Gunners beat Sunderland in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Arsenal have made several offers to Nketiah to extend his deal, with the striker so far refusing to commit his future at the club. After the game, Arteta was asked about the situation with the forward, as the Spaniard insisted the club are doing all they can to ensure he stays put.
After the game, Arteta seemed resigned to seeing Nketiah leave at the end of the season, although he maintained he was hopeful of a turnaround. The Arsenal manager’s comments appeared on the Independent after the Gunners secured a semifinal berth in the Carabao Cup, beating Sunderland.
Arteta said, “I tell you every day that we want to keep Eddie. We see how he trains; that’s what he does every day; he works so hard and puts the ball in the net every session. I am really delighted with him. Every time we have needed him, he has always responded.
“We are trying (to persuade him to stay). It’s not about anything else but minutes. He wants game time, he wants to be on that field and that is the only reason to say ‘can I do it here?’ That’s the question. We all want him to stay.”
Alongside Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette also finds himself running down his deal. Coupled with Aubameyang’s situation, Arsenal could lose all three of their senior strikers by next summer, which could mean a spending spree after the current season ends to bring in new forwards.
They have been linked to several strikers, although the club are not close to any signing. If Nketiah and Aubameyang are to leave in January, then Arsenal will likely accelerate their plans to bring in a new forward.
