Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that Arsenal are recalling Eddie Nketiah from his loan spell at Elland Road.
The England under-21 international was due to spend the entire season on loan with the Championship outfit but the Argentine admits that after handing the player just two starts they hadn’t met the Gunners expectations.
Nketiah, who has scored five goals in 18 appearances this season, could be loaned to another club for the second half of the season.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds after his side’s draw with West Brom, Bielsa revealed: “The club and him informed us that he is not going to continue with us,. We are sorry for that.
“We know what we offered to him maybe was not what the club (Arsenal) expected.
“He is a great player and excellent professional. He has been developed with a good education and for this reason it is a pity for us that he leaves us. We were happy with him.”
In a statement on Twitter, Nketiah wrote: “Unfortunately my time at Leeds has come to an end. It’s been an amazing experience and a privilege to play for such an amazing club.
“I would like to say a big thank you to my teammates, the coaching staff and the manager for making my time here an enjoyable one.
“Lastly, a big thank you to all the wonderful fans for taking to me so quickly. I wish the club all the best and I’m sure you’ll get to the promised land.”
After last night’s 2-0 win over Manchester United, Mikel Arteta revealed he’d be meeting with Nketiah today to discuss his future.
“Yes, we are having a meeting tomorrow with Raul and Edu to go through all the loans and situation,” he said. “I know he is coming tomorrow, so I will speak to him and we will try to make the best decision for him.”
In a twist of fate, Arsenal play Leeds United in the FA Cup third round on Monday.
I hope we make the right decision with Nketiah. I trust Arteta though.
With FA Cup and all that, is there no way to keep him with us and give him good game time? It’d be nice to see Eddie and Martinelli compete with each other and with the seniors for a place in the squad.
With Laca, Auba, and Martinelli in the first XI, Eddie’s not going to get a look in.
He’s at a stage where he needs to be getting at least some minutes every week. Barring injury (or transfers out), he’s not going to get that at Arsenal right now.
Germany would be a interesting change of pace for him, IMO.
The game against Leeds has so much subtext, beyond the usual Arsenal v Leeds history. Arteta going up against the teacher of his footballing education, the game should be seriously intense. Eddie to immediately haunt Biesla? Can’t wait to find out.
I would definitely play him against Leeds – go and take out all that frustration on them…
If Eddie plays, he’ll be unable to play for any other club for the rest of the season. A player may mot represent more than two clubs in competitive play for a season/year, if I remember correctly.
Spurs could do with him now Kanes out. Lol
Keep him. With a thin squad, a much more aggressive style of play, and Laca having some fitness issues, I think there’s a place for him to get some valuable minutes for the club. In addition, for the future, it would be good for Arteta to get to know him and for him to understand what’s required to play in an Arteta team.