Mikel Arteta says that Eddie Nketiah is showing every day in training that he wants to stay at Arsenal despite turning down new contract offers.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side’s second goal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Eddie Nketiah wants more minutes and he seems to believe that he needs to leave Arsenal in order to get them.

But that’s not what Mikel Arteta believes the 22-year-old believes.

Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest, in which Nketiah is sure to feature, Mikel Arteta said, “I already spoke about Eddie, about how I feel about him, the intentions of the club and where we are.

“He is with us, every day he shows me and the club that he wants to stay with us and I keep having those discussions with him, but he knows that we want him at the club.”

Nketiah is out of contract in the summer and, according to reports, has already turned down a number of contract offers from Arsenal.

Newcastle United and Crystal Palace have both been heavily linked, while the player, who can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club, is said to be in talks with Bayer Leverkusen.

Eddie Nketiah seen as leading option for Newcastle United

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side’s second goal during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The Telegraph report that Newcastle United are looking at a number of strikers for the January transfer window, with Eddie Nketiah and Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke the leading domestic options.

Nketiah is seen as the more realistic option, given his expiring contract and the fact Bournemouth are chasing promotion.

Callum Wilson is Newcastle’s top scorer in the Premier League this season, but he picked up an injury against Manchester United in a match at the end of last month.

The expectation is that he’ll be out for at least six weeks, possibly even longer.

Given only three clubs had scored fewer goals than Newcastle even before the injury, and they sit just one point off the bottom of the table, it’s fair to say they could really do with an addition at centre-forward.

London, England, 1st August 2021. Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal during the Pre Season Friendly match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture credit should read: Paul Terry / Sportimage SPI-1111-0117
1st August 2021: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal during the Pre-Season Friendly match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: Paul Terry / Sportimage

Nketiah has only played 362 minutes of first-team football this season, but he’s only one goal off Wilson’s season tally of six.

You’re usually guaranteed some goals with the 22-year-old, and he seems to be developing well over the last few months.

So a deal with Newcastle would make sense, in many ways. But whether they submit a sufficient bid for Mikel Arteta to give up on keeping the youngster is another matter.

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