It was in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup last season that Eddie Nketiah announced himself with two goals against Norwich City.
As we approach that stage of the competition again, the striker has yet to play a single minute for the Arsenal first-team this season.
Nketiah made the bench against Vorskla Poltava and Brentford but failed to do so against Qarabag and there have been occasions when the hugely talented youngster hasn’t even been involved with first-team training.
There is little doubt about the quality that Nketiah possesses, with his consistent performances at U23 level emphasising his clinical nature – he has scored four goals in as many games this campaign and also netted against Coventry City in the Checkatrade Trophy.
It seems clear now that Nketiah is above playing for the U23s and needs to challenge himself further, but he faces a major battle to even get onto the bench for first-team fixtures given Unai Emery’s policy of naming strong squads for cup games.
With players of the calibre of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette ahead of him, as well as the hard-working Danny Welbeck, Nketiah has been left frustrated so far.
The upcoming game against Blackpool could represent a chance for Nketiah to showcase his credentials but other than in a Europa League dead rubber (if such a scenario arises) it is difficult to envisage him receiving much more playing time.
A loan spell, then, could be a possibility for Nketiah in January but of course much thought would have to be put into deciding his potential destination.
A move abroad, perhaps to the Bundesliga, may well be hugely beneficial because at present it is difficult to envisage Nketiah getting much of a look in in the near future unless something drastically changes.
—
Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
How long is he contracted to the club?
He has contract until 2022 I believe
It wouldn’t surprise me if his contract runs out on Tuesday
Too good for U23, not quite ready or experienced for regular first-team football…seems to be a regular theme nowadays. Hope Nketiah gets a chance, like Nelson going to Hoffenheim. Problem is, it leaves us a striker short. It’s such a difficult situation for the club, and for someone who certainly has it in him to make the step up.
Asano?
No. As in No
I wouldn’t mind Nketiah and maybe Smith Rowe joining Monaco in January if Henry gets the job
I can’t see Smith-Rowe leaving on loan as currently he seems more in favour than Eddie, but Eddie definitely needs a good loan club.
I was thinking by January when the cup competitions get tougher, Emery might prefer using experienced players. But you’re right, I can’t see ESR leaving either, as he said after signing his new contract a few months ago the going on loan is not an option for him
*that going on loan
Thierry might be a good teacher for Nketiah
get rid of Welbeck, and promote nketiah
Silly comment.
Because he’s a troll; he will say whatever he thinks will wind up actual Arsenal supporters.
Probably a United fan hoping to get Welbeck back brcause he’s better than that fat Belgian they paid 80 mio for.
Genau!
I think he’s Adrian Durham
I recall Emery saying that he wants the young players to “earn” the right to represent the first team squad which is in contrast to AW’s ‘Just throw them all in with the fringe players’ in regards to the cup games. I feel Emery’s way is better in the sense that not only will the youngsters (If and when selected) feel that they have been picked on merit, they will also get to play alongside more 1st team regulars giving them minutes in a more ‘senior’ setup. This isn’t a dig at Wenger as i’ve enjoyed watching many youthal teams… Read more »
Your view seems a bit naive to me. For one, I think that Wenger ‘just throw them in’ because he believed they – probably every single one of them – had a chance to make it and will grow during the process. I find it hard to consider the current approach more ‘organized’ when Wenger’s cup team were so predictable – they were very organized indeed, just in a different way, and it was his approach to developing young players. Needless to say, besides the positives you mention not playing them has also a disadvantages, such as the young players… Read more »
Wenger did indeed ‘just throw them in on many occasion’ Players such as G.Hoyte, Meade, Sanogoo,Eisfeld, Eastmond etc were never EVER going to make the grade with us at all. Others such as Vela, Lansbury, Ozyakup i understand your point, but overall, in my view he just threw a mish mash team of youngsters into senior cups not because he thought they ALL could make it but because he hardly rotated his starting eleven in the league. Emery thus far has rotated in the league and so doesn’t need to start a raft of youngsters in the cup. Hence my… Read more »
I wonder how you interpret the club’s behaviour then. They invested millions in players like Eisfeld and Sanogo. Do you think the club knew from the very beginning that they won’t make it but made the investment and kept the players anyway? Partly related, how can you develop a player if you don’t give him stimuli, learning opportunities, and game time? I also wonder how the youth development stalled almost to a halt when there are plenty exciting talents around? It’s not like they were not developing but after two months they are on fire like Nelson. I am also… Read more »
You are seriously trying to compare Wenger with Emery in youth development? Wenger was known mainly for that in the History of the game. He was master at post formation and helping young player to make the step up. And he started his approachs long before he was at Arsenal. I am old enough to remember him developing the like of Puel (actual Leicester coach, Georges Weah, Fofana , etc ) He even had a youth project ten years ago… We can criticize Wenger on many points but when it comes to development , people should stop rewriting History. Most… Read more »
I hope he looks at Chuba’s harsh experiences of being loaned around the championship & that he takes the chance to play abroad for a few months. I’d look to find a good fit for him & loan him with the option of next season as well. He needs some consistency somewhere.
How bout a Norwich loan? He could go there, score 2 goals and be even
I wonder if Hoffenheim would take him. Would be nice to have him work with Nelson
Hoffenheim have like 4 strikers! And one of them is world cup finalist kramarić
Sad to let such huge talent go, but Özil (29), Aubameyang (29) and Lacazette (27) could have 4-5 more seasons in Arsenal. Welbeck (27) and Ramsay (27) might not be sold after all, and I guess Smith-Rowe is currently ahead of Eddie in the pecking order.
As sale would be the best for the player. For Arsenal, a loan to a suitable level – where he gets playing time. Bundesliga would probably be phenomenal.
I love Eddie and it kills me to think of him leaving Arsenal. The loan idea can work for and against the club. On the downside it allows players to formulate a permanent deal and on the upside gives them invaluable developmental playing time. We are striker heavy and comparing him to ESR is not fair a he is an AMF not a striker. To unseat Abba and Lacca is not going to be easy as Welbeck is finding out. Keeping these home grown players is vital to the club but there must be a policy. We can all criticize… Read more »
Ramsey
if we stick with a 4-4-2 won’t he get more playing time? Auba/Laca strike pair #1, Eddie/Welbeck strike pair #2?
we need to consider how sending youngsters abroad on loan will also affect our home-grown quota, unless EPL reverts back to the old pre-home grown system now that they’re out of EU.