Eddie Nketiah has Arsenal DNA in his blood.
The 22-year old will be out of contract this summer and has refused to agree to fresh terms with the North London club.
He can leave Arsenal for free by the end of this season and will be allowed to speak to other clubs from this January.
Mikel Arteta hopes that the youngster stays at Emirates beyond the summer.
“Eddie has six months left on his contract and we are having discussions with him and the agent to try to find the best possible way,” said Arteta.
“Eddie knows how much I rate him, and I like him – and I would like him to stay at the club.
“He’s our player, and he’s someone that we raised. He has the Arsenal DNA in his blood, and he loves the club so much.
“His reason is that he wants to play more football, and that’s a genuine reason, it’s nothing to do with anything else. He wants more minutes, and he feels he is able to contribute much more, and that’s why I like him.
“But I understand that Eddie is at that period in his career when after a long spell [out], after coming back, and then being in and out of the team – that he feels that that’s the case. But at the same time I have a strong feeling with him that he can really help the team.”
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