{"id":537999,"date":"2019-12-08T14:13:41","date_gmt":"2019-12-08T19:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=537999"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:38:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:38:43","slug":"arsenal-eddie-nketiah-stay-leeds-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/12\/08\/arsenal-eddie-nketiah-stay-leeds-united\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah to Stay at Leeds United for Duration of Loan Spell"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite a dearth of minutes, Arsenal<\/a> have reportedly decided not to cut short the loan of Eddie Nketiah<\/a> to Leeds United. The striker has yet to start a match in the Championship and spoken of his discontent at the situation.<\/p>\n

Eddie Nketiah to Stay at Leeds for Duration of Loan<\/h2>\n

Productive Yet No Starts<\/h3>\n

Nketiah has scored five times in 12 appearances for Marcelo Bielsa. However, all of those 12 appearances have come from the bench for the England U-21 international.<\/p>\n

The on-loan Arsenal man has spoken out about his discontent at this situation and his loan deal does have a clause allowing the north London outfit to recall Eddie Nketiah in Janaury. Bristol Rovers registered interest in taking the player should this occur.<\/p>\n

Regardless of his new destination, however, popular thought held that the Gunners would activate this clause and find a new opportunity for Nketiah. According to Alan Nixon of the Sun<\/a>, Arsenal are now happy to let the player stay at Elland Road for the duration of the season.<\/p>\n

Interim Arsenal head coach Freddie Ljungberg<\/a> managed Eddie Nketiah for the club’s U-23 side. The Swede said of the player<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“I need to be careful [what I say] but I think Eddie is a great player. If he goes on loan we want him to play football and get minutes otherwise they can maybe be here.<\/p>\n

“I feel a bit sorry for him because he is a great player and the future of this club. When he has had his chance he scores goals and that\u2019s what he is about.”<\/p>\n

When Will the Big Chance Come?<\/h3>\n

Eddie Nketiah also suffered through a similar spell with the Arsenal first team last season. With third-choice striker Danny Welbeck<\/a> injured and unavailable for the year, Nketiah had to stay at the club in case of an extended absence of either Alexandre Lacazette<\/a> or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This never came to pass and the young striker didn’t quite get the chances he craved. He also missed out on a few U-23 matches, hampering his development. He must feel as though history is repeating itself.<\/p>\n

Through no fault of his own, Nketiah is once again in a situation that he cannot control and in which he is not playing the minutes he wants or needs as a player. This is a huge test of mental strength and it will show just what kind of a player he really is.<\/p>\n

If Eddie Nketiah continues on scoring, the big break will come. However, if his head drops and performances suffer, he may not get that chance, at least not at Arsenal.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>