Newcastle United-linked striker Eddie Nketiah has revealed that game time will be the deciding factor behind his future this summer. Nketiah is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season and is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal despite a number of offers from the Gunners.
The 22-year-old made his first Premier League start of the season on Saturday in the 1-0 defeat at Southampton, with the former England U21 captain having been reduced to cameo appearances from the bench. Nketiah had offers to leave the Emirates in January but with Alexandre Lacazette the only other senior striker at the club, he remained in North London.
Newcastle, as well as other Premier League sides including Brighton and Crystal Palace, were all keen in the winter window and could revisit their interest if he becomes available on a free transfer. Speaking on the Beautiful Game Podcast, Nketiah claimed that while he loves Arsenal, it has got to the point in his career where he needs regular game time in order to further his development.
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He said: "I am under contract until the end of the season but my deal runs out. Obviously there have been talks and offers of a new [Arsenal] contract but at the moment my aim is to play football and play regularly. That is my ambition and that is what I hope to do. But at the same time I am at Arsenal, I love Arsenal. I am just trying to focus on the season so much and make sure I finish that in a good way and then sit down and see what I think is the best opportunity to take those steps and develop," he said.
"For me, I feel like I am at this stage where I am thinking I signed a contract for five years when I was 18, and in that five years how many starts have I had? I have been on loan for six months and been here for the rest of them. I have probably started about 30 games in all competitions. And it is like you can never really get to the highest you want.
"People start 30 games in one season, you know? I see players my age that I have played with, they kick on. What is the difference between someone I was playing with at England under-21, I was the captain for them and they are doing well and playing.
"It is not even a thing of looking at them and hating, I am happy for them but how do they get to the point where they are feeling confident and playing? It is through playing those games and having that experience. That is why I thought for me to get to the next step and get to where I think I can get to, I need to consider getting more minutes and playing. That is the thinking behind it."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reiterated his stance that he would like to see Nketiah stay at the club in his pre-Chelsea press conference this afternoon. He did concede, however, that Nketiah’s desire for regular game time is a ‘reality’.
He said: "With Eddie I said so many times how much I rate him and that we have big plans for his future. We have to accept that and it's the reality."
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