Eddie Nketiah says he won’t make a decision about his future until the end of the season even though Arsenal have offered him a new contract.
Concerned about his lack of playing time at Emirates Stadium, the 22-year-old, who will be a free agent in the summer, appears to be laying the groundwork for a move.
Appearing on The Beautiful Game Podcast, the striker said: “I’m under contract until the end of the season but my deal runs out. ”
“There have talks and offers of a new contract but at the moment my aim is to play football and play regularly.
“That’s my ambition and that’s what I hope to do but at the same time I’m at Arsenal, I love Arsenal.
“I’m just trying to focus on the season until May and make sure I finish that in a good way and then sit down and see what I think is the best opportunity to allow me to take those steps and develop.
“I feel like I’m at the stage where I’ve signed a contract for five years when I was 18 and in that five years, how many starts have I had here? I went on loan for six months and been here for the rest and I have probably started about 30 games maybe in all competitions.
“I see players my age that I’ve played with and they kick on and it’s like ‘what’s the difference between someone I was playing with at England Under-21s?’.
“I was the captain for them and they’re doing more. It’s not even a thing of looking at them and hating them, I’m happy for them, but how did they get to the point where they are feeling confident and it’s through playing those games and having that experience.
“For me to take the next step and get to where I think I can get to I obviously need to consider getting more minutes and playing. That’s the thinking behind it.”
On interest in him in January, thought to be from Crystal Palace and West Ham, he added:
“I know there were teams interested and offers made and rejected. Offers were rejected. I’m aware of the interest but I try not to get too hands-on with those things as it can affect your day-to-day. I’ve got a good agency and family around me and I let them deal with things.”
Having made such an impact on his debut under Arsene Wenger five years ago, it’s obvious Eddie hasn’t kicked on in the way he might have hoped.
In fact, Saturday’s match against Southampton was his first Premier League start of the season, which is amazing when you consider the dearth of options we’ve had in attack since January. In that respect, you can hardly begrudge the player a move.
If Nketiah joins another side in England in the summer, the Gunners will be entitled to compensation for having helped raise him. Whether that comes anywhere close to the sums offered at the turn of the year remains to be seen.
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You can watch the full interview below…
He wasn’t great on Saturday, little threat or link-up play, so let’s see what happens until the end of the season.
As much as I love an Arsenal lad, I’m not at all sure he will ever be good enough for us.
Saka and esr and martinelli are getting game time because they deserve and are far better football players. Bottom line is he is not good enough. I’m concerned we are offering a new contract. What has he done in the opportunity’s he has had.
I don’t think he’s good enough for us either but if we’re being honest, the dearth of chance creation makes us a strikers graveyard for guys who rely on supply. You miss a chance or 2 and that’s it for the game. Good luck to him. Hopefully he can find a club to give him the game time he needs.
I am more concerned that Arteta deems him good enough for another contract.
You’ve got to take your chances when you get them, especially at our club.
If he’s moaning about the number of minutes he’s had, I’d challenge him with “prove to me you should start”
If you listen to the podcast he’s not moaning, it’s an interesting chat
I listened to your interview with Ian Wright last week where he bemoaned Eddie’s lack of effort and I agree with his assessment. Regardless if he wants to stay or go it wouldn’t kill him (or us) if he gave a bit more of a fuck. Just like Wrighty said, this is his opportunity to shine.
Agreed. At a significantly lower level
I don’t think he’ll ever make it in the Prem, more of a Championship player. But best of luck to the lad.
Yes, I think Eddie would be a pretty useful addition to a yo-yo club like Norwich, Bournemouth or Fulham. Not for a team contending for European qualification, still less one with ambitions (fanciful as they may seem at the moment) to compete with Liverpool or Man City.
The story was that he could’ve gone to Palace in August but couldn’t agree personal terms.
That’s bitten him in terms of game time (for his local club) but also has hurt us as we’d have been forced to get someone in January that might’ve made all the difference.
If he was playing elsewhere we wouldn’t consider him even as a back up.
Can’t judge anyone on Southampton game.
I think there’s potential but we need a senior striker signing now, and Eddie will be an under study again next season.
Stay with us Eddie, it’ll happen🙏
No it won’t. As said many times on here, he is a championship player at best. Arteta needs to unload him as quick as possible.
Very average player, players that really do my head in are strikers who consistently miss sitters, Morata, and to a certain extent Auba and Cavani. But nketia would miss them on a regular basis and he didn’t have much else to offer. I say let him go, I have a feeling we won’t regret it.
As I said on a post over the weekend, if Eddie treated every game like the Carabao Cup then he’d be the best striker in the league
What you need, pal, is to be sold.
ASAP.
You can’t sell someone whose contract expires in 2 months
If we were liverpool im sure we would find a way!
Their transfer guru’s pull some amazing things off.
Just add it to the list of useful things we can’t do.
And there is the problem with Arteta. He doesn’t rotate. So when the backups come on they have no match fitness, and no real chance to make an impact.
Little reason to rotate when you are out of Europe and all cups, have a small squad and play once a week at the most..
In addition to Arteta, I think Xhaka is to blame. I don’t know exactly how, but there must be something.
One of our most consistent players but always the scapegoat 🙈
Somebody missed the sarcasm in George’s post 🤦🏻♂️
I certainly didn’t miss the sarcasm. Just agreeing with his point.
At least he’s funny!
Wait, was that CC game where he scored (maybe twice?) and the Eddie! Eddie! chant was born, really FIVE years ago??
If so he’s really taking “not kicked on from a great start” to the absolute extremes. 😕
Question is what has he shown us with the minutes he’s been given? His style of play to maximise his strength isn’t the team’s tactical set up. He hasn’t shown glimpses that he even has potential to cut it at EPL level for any team let alone as a back up striker to europa league team (which is us 😂😭). My genuine prayer is he is either dumb enough to sign a new contract so that we sell next summer unless we overpay his wages and he ends up never leaving and being another bummer for 5 years. OR he… Read more »
Bit harsh calling him a bummer
Bo Selecta!
If he can’t meet the required level to play for us and he is happy to earn a paycheck week in week out rather than take a cut then I’d call him a bummer. Within his rights to chill on the bench but not to dictate the labels he’s called him. Cedric/Pepe/el neny/holding are back up players that actually contribute to the team. You may wish for better back ups for whatever reason but each has had some positive contribution. What had Eddie’s positive contribution on the pitch been? Plus his only being given minutes imo because of the contract… Read more »
he’s a lot like Laca, except without the goals and assists…
Goals?