Alan Smith has told Sky Sports that he thinks that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah could decide to sign a new contract with the Gunners.
The former Arsenal striker believes that Nketiah getting a run of games in the business end of the season might just convince him to extend his stay at Arsenal.
Smith made the comments following Arsenal’s win against West Ham United in the London derby on Sunday.
Former Leeds United loanee Nketiah started the match and played well.
The 22-year-old striker is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the times.
The Times reported last month that the striker is considering offers to sign for Crystal Palace or Borussia Monchengladbach on a free transfer.
Alan Smith on Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah
Smith told Sky Sports about Nketiah: “They’ve offered him a new contract but because he’s played so little football, he wants to play regular football.
“He’s not doing himself any harm whatsoever with the way he is playing at the moment, and that might just encourage him to think that next year I might get more games.
“I think he would get more games playing like this. If you move away, the chances are it is going to be a step down for him. It’s going to be a mid-table Premier League side that signs him, you’d imagine.”
What to do?
In our opinion, Nketiah should not rush into making a decision on his future at Arsenal.
Yes, the striker is getting games, but how many times did he play when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was at Arsenal for the first half of the season?
Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers, including Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martínez.
This suggests that the Gunners have grand plans in the summer transfer window.
Would Nketiah be ahead of whichever striker(s) Arsenal bring in the summer transfer window?
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