Eddie Nketiah wishes to stay at Arsenal and fight for a senior team spot instead of heading out on loan next season.
The 20-year-old graduated from the club’s academy couple of years back when he got to make his senior debut in a Europa League game against BATE Borisov. He scored his first ever Premier League goal against Burnley on 12 May 2019.
Nketiah has never been loaned out unlike many of his academy teammates. With the departure of Danny Welbeck, a spot for a second string striker role has opened up and he is eager to take it up.
“My ideal scenario is to be playing here, I want to play here next season but we have got to see how that goes,” he told PA. “I am confident enough in my ability that I am good enough to play here so I have just got to work hard and show the manager that I can.
“My aim is to play for Arsenal, that is my goal and has been my aim since I was a kid.
“It is great to have two of the best strikers in the world around you and learn from them every day. I’m just progressing, trying to catch them and make the gap smaller and smaller.”
Arsenal do not have the budget to reinforce the striker spot and they do not need to with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in the side. Nketiah has a solid opportunity to bring up his playing time through several cup and Europa league games next season.
“I think it is really important, over the years it is what Arsenal have prided themselves on, having great youngsters coming through the academy,” he added.
“I think the bunch we have right now, me, Joe Willock, Reiss and the other boys, we are good players for our age and we just have to keep pushing and why not?
“I think the fans would love to see a lot of the young boys in the team week in, week out so come the start of the season, we will all be pushing to get in the team regularly.”
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