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Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal’s stance on Eddie Nketiah amid exit talk

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said that Eddie Nketiah will stay with the club this month despite the lack of progress in contract talks.

The striker has entered the final six months of his Gunners deal, and he is free to negotiate a pre-contract with a foreign club if he wishes.

In recent days, there has been regular speculation that Crystal Palace could make a fresh move to sign the striker after a failed summer approach.

Speaking in today’s press conference, Arteta has insisted that the 22-year-old is still under contract and will stay beyond the January transfer window.

He told Arsenal.com: “He’s our player and he’s under contract, so he will stay with us.”

Our view:

Nketiah has made eight appearances for the Gunners this season, but the majority of his game time has come in the Cup competitions.

He has played just 38 minutes in the league and there are no surprises that he is eyeing a fresh challenge where he can feature regularly.

Palace could offer him the opportunity as early as this month, but the Gunners seem unlikely to sanction his exit with the limited options.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was dropped for six games on the bounce for a disciplinary breach, and he is currently on international duty.

The 32-year-old’s future is a big question mark, and there is speculation that he could be sold before the transfer window closes.

This leaves Alexandre Lacazette and Nketiah as the specialist senior strikers in the squad. Folarin Balogun has been loaned out.

The Gunners look set to take a financial hit to keep Nketiah unless they can recruit a marquee striker this month.

Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic is the prime target, but he will prove very expensive. The overall transfer could cost more than £150 million.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Read: Juventus midfielder Arthur wants to play for Arsenal over Sevilla.

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