Football writer Charles Watts has suggested that Arsenal will be trying to give Eddie Nketiah a new contract amid recent form.
In the past few weeks, the Englishman has forced his way into Mikel Arteta’s thinking, and has now started the club’s last four games in a row – scoring twice in that time.
However, Nketiah’s contract will come to an end in the summer and it seems as though the Gunners may struggle to keep him in north London any longer, even if they are prepared to offer him new terms.
Will Eddie Nketiah be an Arsenal player next season?
Yes
No
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts explained that he believes the club will try and convince him to stay but the player and his agent have likely made up their minds already.
He said (06:12): “I’m sure Arsenal will be trying to get him to change his mind between now and the end of season.
“I don’t think they will, because he’s rejected plenty of contracts in the last sort of six months to a year, that Arsenal put in front of him.
“So I think him and his agent’s mind seems to be pretty set on leaving, which does feel like a bit of a shame potentially given the way he’s playing at the moment. But he’s put himself in the shop window.”
TIF thoughts on Eddie Nketiah and Arsenal…
Until recent weeks, Nketiah, who Arteta has described as ‘extraordinary’, had struggled to make a huge impact on the team. Indeed, in the Premier League, he hadn’t scored or even started a game right up until coming into the team against Southampton (via Transfermarkt).
However, having started every game since he has really caught the eye. Indeed, in the win over Chelsea he grabbed a double and picked up a 8.6 player rating. While against West Ham United in the weekend, he picked up a 7.8 rating (via SofaScore).
Considering his recent form, it’s easy to understand why the Gunners aren’t keen to see him leave on a free at the end of the season. Still, if Watts’ claim is true, it does look as though he is already planning for a future elsewhere.
In other news: ‘Gestured angrily’ – Watts reveals which Arsenal ace ‘screamed’ at Arteta on Sunday