Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes Eddie Nketiah has decided that he wants to leave the Emirates in the summer.
The Gunners have just the 22-year-old and Alexandre Lacazette at the moment. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract was terminated and he has now joined Barcelona, while Folarin Balogun was sent out on loan.
Nketiah has struggled for regular opportunities in the Premier League this season. In the few games that he has played, he hasn’t really done enough to impress Mikel Arteta or Arsenal fans.
That is a shame as the youngster could’ve easily become Arteta’s main man if he had stepped up. Wright, like many fans, is disappointed that Nketiah hasn’t delivered and he believes that the striker will leave the club in the summer.
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Ian Wright: Eddie Nketiah will leave Arsenal soon
The legendary Englishman said on the Wrighty’s House podcast: “Eddie, I haven’t seen enough with him coming off the bench looking hungry enough to challenge two strikers – Auba, who wasn’t in form, and Laca, who wasn’t scoring at the rate he’s been scoring.
“Eddie has been out on loan, he’s bridged that gap (compared to Balogun), he knows what it’s like to be away and scoring goals and I don’t know where his head was at in respect of did he see the opening? Did he see that there was an opening at a club of Arsenal’s size to step in and be the guy?
“When I watch Eddie, whether he came off the bench or whether he started, it didn’t look like it. Now, it looks like he wants to leave and he probably will, but there was a chance there!”
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Nketiah was always viewed by Arsenal as the next big thing at the club when he was coming through the ranks. He was a fantastic goalscorer in his days with the youth sides, but he just hasn’t been able to replicate that at the top level.
The 22-year-old’s contract will expire in the summer and it looks like he has his heart set on a move away, even if Arsenal offer him a new deal. That’s arguably the best move for him as there’s a chance he can become a top goalscorer at a club where he’ll play regularly.
However, a few years down the line, Nketiah may look back at when there was a chance to step up and make it at Arsenal and he didn’t take it. He will surely regret it then.
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