It is now looking highly likely that Eddie Nketiah will be leaving The Emirates on loan within the next 36 hours and all things considered, it is good for him and good for Arsenal.
Nketiah did have a decent pre-season, the fans were singing his name but it was clear that he is still a rough diamond and does need more development and the best way to do that is with regular competitive football.
The brutal truth is that the 20-year-old is still not at the level that is required at Arsenal and his opportunities will be very limited with so many other forwards already at the club.
Arsenal will be competing on four fronts but with Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka as well as the established front three of Aubameyang, Pepe and Lacazette all in the mix that is more than enough for the club to rotate with.
A year on loan will, hopefully, do Nketiah the world of good and when he does return to Arsenal he will be better for it. It does not mean he is not wanted or does not have a bright future with us, it just means that he is still a work in progress and if a Championship club can give him more opportunities to hone his undoubted skills then that is to both his and Arsenal’s advantage.
Barring injuries, Eddie will not get much game time this season because of our fantastic front line, so I think a loan is the right thing. He had a very mixed pre-season, playing very well at times, scoring, but also missing a lot of absolute sitters. He needs to sort out his finishing, and composure.
A loan to a Championship club would be ideal, because I don’t think he’ll get much game time at another Premier League club. I do not want to see him going any lower down like Bielik did at Charlton. Hopefully we get a decent player back in a year’s time.
With the acquisition of Pepe and Martinelli who looks a steal for £6m a loan for Nketiah was always on the cards.Let’s hope he developes sufficiently well to make it at Arsenal in the not too distant future.
And have you thought of who the third striker will be? if he leaves, it will mean that we are one striker injury away from a ”striker crises”.
We already have two WC strikers, (which is more than any of our rivals), so we do not need a third. That said, we could put Martinelli upfront if needed.
Pepe, Nelson or John-Jules
Iwobi can be a false nine like Firmino if necessary
In fact, I’d prefer Arsenal to play with a false nine tactic like Liverpool’s, rather than using a traditional striker
I struggle to know if you are being sarcastic or real with matters concerning iwobi, you seriously think we should use iwobi as a false 9?
Are you seriously suggesting Iwobi could perform as Firmino?Some of your thoughts are so bad I’m sure you post them just for a laugh and not football reasons.Weve had inverted wingers who are called this because they can’t dribble due to having one leg that is dead.Its a bit like the one brain cell you used to have -dead
Agree. I expect Saka and John-Jules to be loaned as well, since we have too many attackers
Unless Arsenal manage to offload Ozil or Mkhitaryan before all transfer windows close, which would be highly unlikely due to their wage demands
And all defender rumors have gone quiet now. I don’t expect them to sign any healthy defender before the window closes, except the injured Tierney
Eddie deserves his chance this season, what more should he do to prove that? Personally I think being surrounded by wc forwards in laca and auba is best for him.
Be confident, we might scrable a defender before tomorow evening, Leipzig valued there defender at £92m, what a joke, i guess he is better than De Ligt.
I really wouldnt want another french cb since saliba is also a french, i forsee Rob partnership with Saliba in the nearest future, thats why i think a loan deal is perfect
What you say about “a championship club to hone his undoubted skills ” wont be good enough . Youre also rather assuming that Martinelli and Saka are ready on the basis that theyve played a few friendlies in pre season. I’m saying that Nelson will be the only back up with some experience. Youd better hope either Aubameyang or Lacazette dont get injured or suspended, if that happens we’re up the creek
Marinelli and Saka are not ready for regular minutes, they can come off the bench at times when needed though. Nketiah, on the other hand, however needs regular game time. Hence the loan. Simple.
Martinelli *
Auba,pepe,laca,martinelli can all rotate upfront if needed,they can all rotate as wingers or inside forwards if needed,plenty combinations to play with,loan is good for nketiah,let him go smash up the championship and cone back a beast.
Pepe, Nelson or John-Jules
Iwobi can be a false nine like Firmino if necessary
In fact, I’d prefer Arsenal to play with a false nine tactic like Liverpool’s, rather than using a traditional striker
aubameyang, laccazett, martinelli, are enough
A loan will do him the world of good. He is ready to be the 3rd striker but instead of sitting on the bench getting 10min here and there and the occasional europa game. Why not go on loan and play every week and hone in on those skills we all see.
Then next year come back and he will be a much further developed player.
We need a CB – i pray this Upacemano rumours are true!
I like the fact that I see Martinelli being mentioned. I am not the only one seeing his greatness. With needed game time he will turn to a beast. The guy has speed, skill, work rate and can finish better than Iwobi, Ozil and Mkhitaryan.
Recently looked up his wikipedia profile and he has a “style of play” section, someone once said here players that has a “style of play” section in Wikipedia are special players.
Great signing from Arsenal.
Martinelli, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pépé.. What a front four!!!!
So who is our back-up striker? If we start Auba-Laca-Pepe should we not have a striker to come of the bench or lighten the load in cup games?
This seems like a stupid move to me.
Unless we bench Laca or Auba? But that also seems like a suboptimal solution.