Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah loan necessitates replacement

According to David Ornstein, Arsenal want to loan out Eddie Nketiah next season. If that is the case, a replacement will have to be found.

In Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal have arguably the best centre-forward duo in the Premier League. The two were excellent last season, Aubameyang tied for the Golden Boot award and Lacazette being named the Player of the Season. But beyond the pair, numbers are a little thin.

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Entering last season, Danny Welbeck was the presumed replacement. Welbeck was the ideal sub-striker with great versatility and work rate. But a horrific injury suffered in early November ended his season. In the end, that 0-0 draw against Ludogorets would be his final outing in an Arsenal shirt, the club declining the chance to extend his contract beyond this season.

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Welbeck’s injury thrust teenager Eddie Nketiah into the role of third striker. Ultimately, he would not be needed much throughout the year, such was the consistent availability and form of both Lacazette and Aubameyang, but Unai Emery, had he needed to, would have been forced to turn to a vastly unproven but exceptionally talented 19-year-old to lead the line.

Forecasting forwards, there is great debate surrounding the future of Nketiah: Should he continue in this sub-striker role which he might not be ready for but could flourish as a result or should he be loaned out to find first-team football lower down the pyramid? According to David Ornstein of BBC Sport, the Gunners are considering the latter option:

"“There is a desire to send Eddie Nketiah on loan. Decisions will also need to be made on whether youngsters such as Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka are loaned out or integrated into the first team.”"

Now, I do not know if loaning out Nketiah would be the right course of action or not. It is impossible to tell at this rate. But if that is the desire of Emery and the club, they must ensure that they do not leave themselves overly light at the centre-forward position as a result.

Welbeck is already on his way out. Should Nketiah follow him, Arsenal will only have two centre-forwards in the squad, both of which will likely start almost every game. If there is Champions League football to contend with, that third — and even fourth — striker position in the squad becomes extremely important. Depth, rotation and the need to account for form will all play a part throughout a season. Having other options is vital.

Lacazette and Aubameyang are capable of leading the line on themselves, but to expect them to play every minute of the season would be ludicrous, and rather stupid. Both have been somewhat fortunate with injuries last season, and we saw what happened when Lacazette missed significant time the previous season: Arsenal became completely dependent on Aubameyang.

A foil to the pair is absolutely essential. That will not be Welbeck. It could be Nketiah. But if it isn’t, an external solution will need to be found. The Gunners cannot be caught light at the striker position.