Eddie Nketiah’s future at Arsenal is somewhat up in the air this summer, with his name among a number reportedly available for transfer during this window.
The 25 year old is one of the players who were brought to Marbella for some pre-pre-season training with boss Mikel Arteta, and reports from France suggest interest from Marseille.
According to reporter Santi Aouna, contact between the French side and the player’s representative (the same agency who look after Bukayo Saka) have been made, with Eddie reportedly open to the move.
There is, as yet, no reporting on a potential fee because this is in the very early stages, but Arsenal have valued the striker at around £30m – a figure which might sound high, but in a summer when unknown players have been sold between Premier League clubs for exorbitant prices, a consequence of that is the valuations of players who are actually experienced and have delivered at the top level.
Nketiah scored 6 goals for the Gunners last season, but as the campaign went on, his playing time dwindled – and he failed to start a Premier League game in 2024.
With 38 goals in 168 Arsenal appearances (many of which were short cameos from the bench), it looks as if his time in red and white might well be coming to an end, but Marseille might face competition from English clubs, including Crystal Palace, who have held a long-term interest in the player.
Eddie isn’t the only Hale End graduate to reportedly on the transfer list this summer. He’s there alongside Reiss Nelson (linked this week with West Ham), and Emile Smith Rowe (linked with Fulham).
I’d keep ESR definitely and Eddie probably, both Arsenal lads and solid backups.
Gotta disagree. Neither are fancied by Arteta so we need to make hay before we tank their values.
Backup players should be pushing the first XI (like Trossard did) not stagnating on the bench and getting 5 mins every three games.
Arsenal boys or not, it’s time to leave.
Stagnating is the perfect word. People (Todd Boehly) think young players magically get better with age like on FIFA just because their age increases. In reality, once a player is physically mature (20/21 generally) the only way they get better is by playing games, so having Nelson, Nketiah, ESR, Vieira etc sat on the bench is bad for Arsenal and bad for the players. Vieira, aged 24, has started three consecutive games twice in his entire career, both more than 2 years ago. How on earth is he supposed to fulfil his potential? He needs a loan and I could… Read more »
For ESR, you should say, get the opportunity to push for the first XI and not being stagnated…..
Mikel can be stubborn but to suggest he would keep ESR on the bench out of spite is a bit far fetched to say the least. Managers play the players they think can help them win, and the truth is ESR didn’t do enough last season to break into real contention. There’s no reason to think next season will be any different given the same, or increased, competition for places. He was a great story in 2020 when the level of the squad was different. Much like Tierney, he hasn’t been able to keep up with the evolution. It’s time… Read more »
There was no suggestion Smith-Rowe’s limited game time was an act of spite. I think much more it was because by the second half of the season when his injury issues were resolved we were a settled team performing at the highest level, fighting for our first title in twenty years in a race which went down to the wire. It’s difficult to give players outside your settled starting unit much game time in such circumstances. I would also say in his limited appearances Smith-Rowe looked very good, flowing well with the rest of the team and regularly getting into… Read more »
Very fair point in your first paragraph. He did miss games he could’ve played in from October -December. For balance though you also have to say He was available August-September and didn’t play much then either. Fabio Vieira got a lot of the minutes that might’ve gone to him, and I can’t see that being based on anything other than merit. There was also no rush to give him minutes ahead of Kai Havertz or Declan Rice in the left 8, even though neither of them are naturals there in the way ESR is. That was the bar ESR had… Read more »
If ESR is allowed to leave and we keep viera it will be a fkn disgrace.
Arteta decides not us. We have wishes but not a say.
I think ESR looked excellent in the game he started. So if I say he should stay I don’t mean “and stagnate” I mean “and play”. I don’t argue to keep him on the bench all year nor do I expect artete to decide that.
The problem with this is that having 11 backup players that are good enough to push the first 11 is only possible if you break the financial rules. First team quality players expect first team quality salaries. Man City are the only club that have achieved this setup, and they only achieved it by breaking every financial rule there is. If a club stays within the rules, then realistically they can afford to have about 15 players who are genuine first 11 quality. The best case scenario for the rest is that they’re decent hardworking pros who care about the… Read more »
That’s the problem. They don’t want to be backups. Sell them on and get half decent money for them while we can. Their value has already dropped since their time on the pitch was so limited this past season. Another year on the bench would diminish it even further.
Nketiah doesn’t really fit the system any more either. Havertz and Jesus are ball playing, creative CF’s. And we are clearly on the lookout for a killer tall boy. Eddie is neither of these.
If you watch his comps online, there are some nifty moves and finishes, and he competes hard in the duels. More than any tactical fit issues I think the problem is he just doesn’t lead the line with the even close to the fervor or nuanced positioning out of possession of a Jesus or Havertz. On the tactical side, I agree he doesn’t look like an Arsenal CF. I’ve always said I see him as more of a Martinelli alternate in our system with his direct running power and transitional abilities, but he was never once deployed there. Instead the… Read more »
I actually think Eddie’s compete level is the biggest issue. He doesn’t do enough off-ball in our tactical pressing system our press visibly declines when he comes on because (1) he doesn’t work as hard as he could and as hard as other forward (Jesus/Havertz) do, and (2) he isn’t good at working and timing the team press – maybe that is partly down to a lack of game time with the first team system, but I think it is more that he’s just not a very good tactical player. So he doesn’t contribute enough in build up play, and… Read more »
Nketiah is nowhere near technical enough for wing play.
I agree completely. The thing is, at Arsenal, the LW role is basically a striker role. Think about how Martinelli or Trossard play on the LW (and Aubameyang before them). They have two main jobs. One is to be a release valve, to beat a press by playing wall passes and then spinning in behind for a return ball. Trossard does this more with tricks and feints, Martinelli does it with pace, and Eddie can hold the ball up and carry through contact with powerful runs. The second job once the ball is up the pitch is basically to be… Read more »
If they were solid they’d have gotten more playing time last year.
I’d love Arsenal to go for one of those generic high-level forwards that every big European club seems to have ready to go off the bench. Turning 3 players (ESR, Nelson, Nketiah) who can’t play enough to be match-fit into or Kingsley Coman/Torres/Raphinha would be a significant improvement to our useable depth, even if it’s technically fewer numbers.
Eddie is a solid backup for which player exactly?
Unfortunately Eddie didn’t take his chance, lets not forget he’s played at every level for us and international level although not playing when picked being a full squad member, he’s the top u21’s goalscorer, his ability, injury record, professionalism is never in doubt, at 25 with less games he needs to find another club, a lot of clubs will be looking to get him on the cheap, If he does leave I would hope it’s in another league, Germany’s one
If we could recoup +£60m for our three Hale end boys, I’d be much more interested in tossing £80m at Gyokeres or pushing hard for Bruno.
Although all three played a little last season, we didn’t rely on any of them (bar perhaps Eddie for a few weeks).
So although they need replacing (for me, Nwaneri could take ESR’s minutes) this really does feel like unmitigated profit.
West ham fans have been crying for a striker signing, and Eddie is already in london…
Considering how often we lose precious points to that lot I don’t *really* want to aid their chances, especially as it will hurt doubly if it ends up being Eddie scoring for them against us. Nah, Marseille’s good. Better weather too.
Eddie going to Ligue Un sounds a plan, he’ll enjoy himself in France and he won’t be causing us any pain in the EPL. Wages and transfer fee might be an issue?
Definitely looking forward to his bi weekly French food blog from the team’s road trips. “Signing off from the French Alps, yours truly, Eddie Raclette-iah”
Doesn’t roll off the tongue as much as Aubamabloodclatyang
I’d sure as hell rather “not play” in France 🙂
“£30m – a figure which might sound high,”
It doesn’t sound high at all, he is a proven PL striker.
He is proven to be mediocre at best.
A mediocre PL striker with a track record of scroing in the competition is still a valuable commodity. How much would Jean Mateta, Hwang Hee Chan, Michael Antonio, Rodrigo Muniz, Richarlison, etc fetch? And Eddie has the advantage of only just entering his prime and offering greater physical potential than a lot of those guys. I’d say 30 is on the low side, probably because his salary is already 100k.
A better than mediocre striker would be valued at
at least 50mil, so that just about tracks
Bad timing, he just missed a Guendouzi reunion. Two ships passing in the night.
Big bro Auba will still be there.
He would smash it in the French league. Good move for all parties.
Marseille just bougt Greenwood for 31 million Euro. Don’t think they have that much to spend anymore.
Don’t know why buy I think Nketiah would do great at Crystal Palace.
Greenwood isn’t done and both the Mayor and their fans have spoken out against it, I’d happily take the same deal for Nketiah