Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah has “no future” at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta and should leave the club.
Nketiah came on from the bench for the last eight minutes of Arsenal’s 0-2 FA Cup loss to Liverpool on Sunday, while Kai Havertz started up front in Gabriel Jesus’ absence.
BBC commentator Alan Shearer questioned Arteta’s decision to bring on the England international so late in the game, with the Spaniard making the substitution only after Liverpool had scored their second goal.
The 24-year-old has scored five Premier League goals this season, including a hat-trick against Sheffield United.
But since then his appearances have been rare and Crystal Palace are among the clubs being linked with signing the striker.
According to former Blackburn striker and Premier League winner Chris Sutton, Nketiah should leave the club later this month.
Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Sutton explained: “If I’m Eddie Nketiah, I’m wondering how come I’m sitting on the bench and [thinking], ‘I’ve got no future at Arsenal unless I start as a central striker.
‘ [Arteta] is desperate, I understand that. But what message is he sending to Nketiah, if Havertz is number nine, what is Nketiah thinking?
“If I am Nketiah, I think to myself: ‘I can’t stay at Arsenal anymore’. If a guy plays wearing shackles, come on, he has no future at Arsenal.”
The Gunners have reportedly set a price tag of Ā£30 million, which appears to be partly driven by a desire to sell players to bring in reinforcements.
Arteta explained his transfer plans as the window opened: “We are open to the transfer market, but the focus is on making the best of the players we have.
“We will work with the club to understand if there are any options and if we have good options. But first we will focus on the players we already have.”