Arsenal: What more does Eddie Nketiah have to do?

Eddie Nketiah scored a hat-trick in England Under-21’s victory over Austria. What more must the Arsenal loanee do to earn playing time at Leeds United?

It has been quite the season for one Eddie Nketiah. After a frustrating campaign last year in which playing time was limited and confidence seeped away from his game, the Arsenal prospect wanted a new challenge this time around, keen to secure first-team game time, even if that meant leaving his boyhood club.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Performances Vs. Results

And so, after lengthy discussions with a variety of suitors and Unai Emery eventually handing his blessing, Nketiah departed in the summer, a season-long loan to Leeds United the agreed transfer. It felt like everyone was winning. Apart from, so far this year, that has not been the case.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Nketiah is yet to make a Championship start, Patrick Bamford preferred in his stead. All in all, he has played only 134 minutes of league action. And that comes across six appearances, all of them from off the bench. His only two starts have come in the Carabao Cup.

But despite these limited opportunities, he is still proving his goalscoring quality. He has two goals and an assist in those 134 minutes, good for a goal every 67 minutes, which is an excellent strike-rate. He also scored in both EFL Cup starts.

And now, he is performing on the international stage as well. On Tuesday night, Nketiah notched a hat-trick for the England under-21s in a thumping 5-1 victory over Austria. He now has eight goals in six games for the England under-21s. The numbers speak for themselves.

On this occasion, it was again his movement in the box that was so impactful. He scored two headers, the first a deft flick from a Lloyd Kelly cross, the second a lovely, accurate effort after splitting two defenders to rise highest to meet Dwight McNeil’s floated centre. He then completed his hat-trick with a ‘simple’ tap-in, recognising the space in the penalty area, darting clear of a defender and side-footing the easy finish.

And Nketiah could have had more. He missed a penalty late on, his effort well saved, and scored a lovely goal in the first half with a terrific first touch but was miles offside in the process. He now has ten goals on the season, which is more than any Arsenal player, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Yet, despite this excellent form and clear illustration of relentless goalscoring ability, Nketiah cannot force his way into the Leeds starting XI. It is increasingly fair to ask: what more does he have to do to prove to Marco Bielsa that he is ready to play?

If Nketiah is not handed a fair crack at the whip at Elland Road, Arsenal should — and likely will — pull the plug on the loan deal. He went there to be handed game time, and at present, he is not receiving it. If that continues, change is necessary. In the meantime, Nketiah is doing everything he can to earn the opportunity he deserves.