Arsenal set for huge Eddie Nketiah loss

Arsenal Will Lose Nketiah for Free – Despite Arteta’s Wishes

Speaking after the 2-0 win, Arteta once again lavished Nketiah with praise for his performance, just as he’d done against the Dons and just as he has done for his entire tenure.

The manager has been complimentary of the striker even in his toughest moments.

"“I have no doubts about what he [Nketiah] can offer,” Arteta told the club website. “But there’s a lot of players who play in that position, and with a personal situation [with his contract running down], but I try to leave that aside and try to [reward him] because he deserves it. “[…] we had a situation in the summer that we tried to resolve and we couldn’t either way. I have full belief that he is going to be a top player and hopefully at Arsenal."

"“I am happy to have him in the team. He is our player and I consider him and regard him really highly, and from my side I want him to stay.”"

Arteta laying his cards on the table will be a huge personal boost for Nketiah. But what of them? He has a teammate in Balogun who has been handed a detailed outline of his route into the Premier League side, and for all the manager’s encouragement, Nketiah is yet to make a top-flight squad this season.

Of course, Lacazette and Aubameyang have one and two years left respectively in their north London tanks, and the gaps they will leave are there to be filled. Yet should Nketiah sign a new deal and fight for his place, it’s hard to envisage his duties differing too greatly from their current remit. From Nketiah’s point of view, being bit-part won’t suffice.

What Arsenal need and what Arsenal want can’t be fulfilled by Nketiah. It may be by Balogun, and only time will tell on that, but to enter the next phase of this rebuild Arsenal will have to sign a new striker. Nketiah is not the player to elevate this team.

Improvements are being made in all departments of his game, and while his profile and knack for finding the back of the net will be to Arsenal’s detriment, it will only be so financially. With age, ability and a contract on his side, the club could have fetched a healthy profit. As it is they’ll lose him for free. From all parties’ perspective it can’t conceivably end any other way.

Clubs will be lining up for a homegrown striker with Premier League experience. This is someone who is developing without competitive minutes and whose eye for goal – which averages at 5.9 yards out – is a hallmark he won’t lose.

While Nketiah isn’t a striker to lead Arsenal forward, his departure will still prove to be a huge loss that the club failed to profit from.