Arsenal suffer Eddie Nketiah transfer blow

Arsenal are not having the best of times selling players this summer. Nobody has a particular craving for unwanted players on big wages at a club that finished eighth in consecutive Premier League seasons. Who’d have thought?

With a growing pile of deadwood in need of shifting this summer, the lack of activity on that front is starting to cause concern. All clubs are suffering from the same fate and as the August 31 deadline approaches there is a general consensus that the market will begin opening up.

Some of Mikel Arteta’s men won’t be shifted. This is an increasingly likely eventuality. Alexandre Lacazette, for example, doesn’t look like departing barring a late twist, and his exit would also seemingly imply Arsenal push harder for the likes of Tammy Abraham.

Where there is some hope of sales this summer is with the Hale End contingent. A Hale Exodus, if you like (you probably don’t).

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1423991848905945091

Arsenal suffer Eddie Nketiah transfer blow as striker is ruled out until after summer deadline with ankle injury sustained against Chelsea

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has every chance of leaving this summer for a welcome fee, so too Joe Willock who continues to be linked with Newcastle as figures in the region of £22m are mentioned.

Reiss Nelson is unlikely to depart for a fee, and if so a minor one, as the Gunners continue to aim for a contract extension and loan move. Crystal Palace are the front runners in that chase.

And then there is Eddie Nketiah, who has surprised many with an impressive pre-season this summer. Operating in a few wide roles, the striker has found the back of the net twice with goals against Rangers and Watford, looking sharp and hungry throughout.

This is a demonstration of his professionalism as well as his desire to secure a lucrative move away, one that feels inevitable with the 22-year-old rejecting a new contract and having just one year left on his current deal.

Which is why the news from the official Arsenal website of Nketiah being out for a month with an ankle injury is exceptionally bad timing. Sustaining the bruising against Chelsea in the 2-1 defeat, the striker isn’t due back to training until September, after the window shuts.

Him not being fit doesn’t rule out a sale this summer but it damages the both his and the Gunners’ chances of finding an amicable solution. While he isn’t now destined to stay, this setback does far more harm than good.

Any move now runs the risk of being left until very late in the window, hindering Arteta’s chances of signing a replacement should he desire to. Of course, Lacazette needs to leave first too.

A move away has to happen due to his contract situation. It can’t not. This is far from ideal, though.