3 reasons Arsenal shouldn't give Nketiah a new deal

3 reasons Arsenal shouldn’t give Eddie Nketiah a new deal

Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah reacts after missing to score during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Arsenal at the London Stadium, in London on May 1, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Mikel Arteta embraces Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal before he is substituted on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on March 19, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

2. Arsenal Need Competition for Places

News on the grapevine is that Arsenal want to sign two forwards this summer. There is some discussion over whether they want two strikers or one who can be a hybrid and slot into wide areas when needed to, but the bottom line is two players to effectively help score goals.

Should they sign two then only one is likely to play at any given time. To paraphrase what Arteta said when the club signed Aaron Ramsdale, ‘I don’t want a No.1 and a No. 2, I want two No. 1s’.

That has to be the ethos across the team. If William Saliba returns and is integrated into the first team squad then it shouldn’t be seen as adding a backup, it should be viewed through the lens of competition. Why shouldn’t he challenge either Benjamin White or Gabriel?

If Arsenal do – for example – sign Gabriel Jesus and keep Nketiah, telling the pair that neither is guaranteed a starting spot in the side, then is Nketiah really the player to test Jesus and improve him as a player? This is someone who had been competing with Sergio Aguero, and since has been tussling with Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva for a spot in Man City’s front three.

The striker who isn’t playing at any given time has to be pushing his teammate right to the edge. If for just one second there is a drop-off in form they are ready to pounce. It comes back to the general notion of quality, but is Nketiah really the guy to eek an extra five percent out of his fellow centre-forward?

Having been at the club for so long, there would be a general lift around the place from having talented new faces suddenly vying for involvement. All players improve when they play alongside a higher calibre of player. Nketiah won’t provide that lift.

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