wicked.football

Noel Whelan feels striker Eddie Nketiah is unlikely to sign a new contract with Arsenal due to uncertainties over the number of games he will play for the club.

The 22-year-old has been with the Gunners since 2015, when he swapped the Chelsea youth set up for north London. The Lewisham-born hitman scored goals for fun for both the Under-18 and Under-23 sides. And he was given a brief taste of first-team action during the 2017-2018 campaign.

The former England Under-21 ace was loaned to Leeds United for the 2019-2020 season but failed to make the expected impact. Manager Marcelo Bielsa handed him just two Championship starts and 17 outings.

He managed to score three goals before returning to the Emirates in January. Nketiah then enjoyed seven top-flight starts in red and white and 13 appearances in total, scoring three times.

But he was on the peripheries once again in 2020-2021, with only four league starts among 17 outings. Manager Mikel Arteta recently backed the youngster, saying he is going to be a “top, top player”.

Six big-name players who failed to make the cut as a manager

However the Spaniard has completely overlooked the Londoner the term. He has yet to appear in a matchday league squad this season, with two starts and two goals in the EFL Cup.

There are doubts over his long-tern future at the club as his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Arsenal have been making the right noises about wanting him to remain at the Emirates. But former Leeds and Middlesbrough striker Whelan is unsure that will be sufficient.

“When you’ve got a player in that position, he’s holding the cards. Right now, it doesn’t seem like it’s financial,” he told Football Insider. “He wants to play first-team football, start games and be an integral part of the starting XI week in, week out.

“I know you’ve got Lacazette coming out of contract as well, there might be an opening there for him. He needs more guarantees from Arsenal.”

Doubts on both sides over Nketiah future

Nketiah seems to be highly rated by Arsenal but it was reported at the end of September that he might push for a January exit. Journalist Ekrem Konur tweeted that both Leeds and Aston Villa were keen to end his Arsenal nightmare.

It remains to be seen if that is the case as clubs could pick up Nketiah for nothing next summer. And Whelan believes it is a two-way street, with the player needing to prove he is worthy of a new deal.

“He also needs to give Arsenal guarantees that he’s going to progress and be somebody that can be beneficial to them as a number nine,” he added.

“At the minute, I don’t think either party actually quite know what it is they want. I think he wants first-team football, 90 minutes week in, week out. To be part of the first-team setup and be their number nine.”

READ MORE: Arteta highlights major aspect of Leicester win; hails ‘incredible’ Arsenal man

The post Pundit tips Arsenal striker exit as neither side showing true commitment appeared first on TEAMtalk.