‘I have full belief’: Arteta says 22-year-old will be a ‘top player,’ but it may not be at Arsenal

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was absolutely delighted with Eddie Nketiah last night following the Englishman’s brilliant performance against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup.

Nketiah started up front for Arsenal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rested and Alexandre Lacazette on the bench. Nobody has ever doubted his quality, but he hasn’t been consistent enough to nail down a place at Arsenal.

Arteta gave him an opportunity at the Emirates last night and Nketiah impressed. The 22-year-old linked play up really well and scored a fine goal too in the second half, albeit it could’ve turned into the miss of the century.

The Arsenal boss was quizzed about Nketiah’s future after the game. Arteta admitted that his contract situation is a difficult one, but claimed that he wants the young English striker to stay at the Emirates as he’ll be a ‘top player’.

Arteta: I want Nketiah to stay at Arsenal

The Spaniard said, as per Arsenal.com: “I have no doubts about what he can offer. Whatever you throw at him, he wants more and demands more of himself, and he’s another one that I am delighted to see the performance and for him to score the goal and help the team because he totally deserves it.

“But, there are a lot of players who play in that position, and with a personal situation [with his contract running down], but I try to leave that aside and try to [reward him] because he deserves it.

“We had a situation in the summer that we tried to resolve and we couldn’t either way. The contract situation is more and more common in football, from where we are coming from with Covid and a lot of issues we have to resolve.

“I have full belief that he is going to be a top player and hopefully at Arsenal. I am happy to have him in the team. He is our player and I consider him and regard him really highly, and from my side I want him to stay.”

Should Nketiah sign a new contract?

Nketiah will be a free agent at the end of this season and he will not be short of offers. The Englishman is a fantastic talent who is capable of scoring consistently if given regular opportunities.

Clubs like West Ham United and Brighton, who were both linked with him in the summer, could do with a player like Nketiah, who could potentially become their main man for the better part of the next decade.

Arteta seems desperate to keep hold of Nketiah and staying at a big club like Arsenal has its perks. However, the 22-year-old isn’t going to replace Aubameyang in the starting lineup and if the Gunners replace Lacazette in the summer, that striker will likely be ahead of him as well.

The best thing for Nketiah would be to leave Arsenal for a club where he’ll play regularly next season. That’s a shame for the Gunners as they’ll lose him for free, but there’s not a lot they can do to change things now.