Charles Watts feels that three Arsenal players could have played their final game for the club – and their fate could be revealed ‘very soon’.
The journalist was speaking after the Gunners’ convincing 5-1 win victory over an Everton side who looked well and truly on the beach, to coin a phrase.
Will Nketiah stay at Arsenal?Yes
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Despite the win, Mikel Arteta’s side will be playing in the Europa League next season after Tottenham also hit relegated Norwich for five at Carrow Road, and now attention will quickly turn to next season.
With Mohamed Elneny, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah all coming into the final month of their Arsenal contracts, their status ahead of the new campaign remains unclear.
Watts is confident that Lacazette, who has struggled this term with just four Premier League goals, will move on – but is unsure of the others.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “Mikel Arteta in his press conference afterwards speaking about [Elneny], Lacazette and Nketiah saying the decision has been made on the futures of all three of those, but it’s too difficult to communicate right now.
“So that’s going to come out very, very soon, you would expect, from Arsenal. I suggest that the way Arteta was talking that at least some, if not all – I think Lacazette’s definitely going to go, there’s no doubt about that – but the other two, maybe a little bit more up in the air. We’ll wait and see on that one.”
TIF Thoughts on Arsenal…
In the absence of Thomas Partey, Elneny has landed a prominent role in Arteta’s side and started each of the last seven league games of the season. Interestingly, the Egyptian was recently spotted with the club photographer – which may hint that a contract announcement could be in the offing.
Meanwhile, Nketiah has also stepped up with five goals towards the end of the campaign, emerging as a talisman for the Spanish coach – and the club are understood to be pushing for the player to commit his future to Arsenal.
However, with Gabriel Jesus being heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, it could discourage the young striker from staying in north London.
Meanwhile, Lacazette’s form has dropped this season, with the French sharp-shooter failing to reach double figures in the league for the first time since he joined the Gunners in 2017.
Do you want to see Lacazette stay at Arsenal?
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His influence on the side has waned this season, and with Edu and company thought to be looking to bring in two strikers, you can safely assume that the 30-year-old is the most likely of all three to depart.
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