Chris Sutton has claimed Eddie Nketiah has "no future" at Arsenal, suggesting the striker should be looking for a January move.
Nketiah has made ten Premier League starts this season, coming off the bench in all but one of Arsenal's other League matches, though that run of starts largely came earlier in the campaign when Gabriel Jesus was injured.
He has not scored in the League since a hat-trick against Sheffield United in October, but his tally of five goals has only been bettered by Bukayo Saka, who has six.
However, Nketiah did not start in Arsenal's FA Cup defeat to Liverpool, despite Jesus being ruled out with a knee issue, as Mikel Arteta opted to start Kai Havertz up front instead.
The German missed a number of chances as the Gunners once again were made to regret their wastefulness in front of goal, with Nketiah given only ten minutes off the bench after Liverpool took the lead.
Arsenal continue to be linked with a January move for a striker, with Ivan Toney an obvious target, but the Gunners are not in a position to spend big unless money is raised through player sales.
Nketiah could reportedly be one of those moved on, with Crystal Palace believed to be interested, though it is claimed Arsenal are holding out for at least £30million.
Sutton has urged the striker to consider his future, as he reflected on Arteta's decision to not start Nketiah against Liverpool.
"If I’m Eddie Nketiah, I’m wondering how I’m benched and [thinking that] I don’t have a future at Arsenal if I’m not starting as a central striker," Sutton told the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast.
"[Mikel Arteta is] desperate, I get that, but what message does that send to Nketiah if Havertz is at number nine, what is Nketiah thinking?
"If I’m Nketiah, I’m thinking I can’t stay at Arsenal any longer, if you play a guy who has shackles on, come on, he has no future at Arsenal."
