Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah loan requires obvious reaction

Arsenal are reportedly deciding whether to keep Eddie Nketiah as their third-choice striker or loan him out. Should they choose the latter, an obvious reaction is required.

There are a whole host of young players that Arsenal must make major decisions on this summer. With what is believed to be one of the most talented young crops the club has ever produced, there are inevitability lots of management paths to explore, some more beneficial than others.

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One player who faces a critical summer that could heavily impact the rest of his career is 20-year-old centre-forward, Eddie Nketiah. Nketiah has been a shining light for the academy products in recent seasons, notching his first Premier League goal at the end of last season. But his career has reached a crossroads.

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Now firmly established as a senior prospect, Nketiah is still a long way down the pecking order at the striker position. Even with Danny Welbeck departing this summer, he is still the third choice at the position behind the excellent pair of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, both of which he will struggle greatly to displace. Providing him with the requisite game time to continue his development, therefore, is challenging.

As such, Arsenal are reportedly considering sending Nketiah out on loan next season, with a series of clubs reported as interested, from Charlton and Bristol City in the Championship to Augsburg of the Bundesliga, who did have a deal lined up in January for Nketiah before Unai Emery blocked the temporary sale amid depth concerns at the position. It is sensible to at least consider a loan.

Whether it is the right decision for Nketiah’s development or not, it is difficult to say. There are very valid reasons on either sides of the argument and it largely depends on the landing spot, not just loaning him out willy-nilly.

Nevertheless, should Arsenal choose to send Nketiah out for a season, there must be an immediate and obvious reaction. Nketiah is the third-choice striker with no real other option behind him. While Lacazette and Aubameyang were everpresent last season and block out the striking positions somewhat, it takes just one long-term injury for everything to fall down. And quickly.

And signing a third-choice striker is not as easy as it seems. First, it costs money, something that the club is not exactly in free supply of. More than that, however, you have to sign a player who is willing to sit on the bench and play second fiddle but is also capable enough to potentially start a lot of games if the worst-case scenario unfolds.

That is not reason enough to prevent an Nketiah loan. His development is the most important motivator for what should happen regarding his future. But it should also enter the discussion because it will need to be solved should Nketiah be loaned out.