Arsenal hat-trick hero Nketiah: Should he stay or should he go?
Eddie Nketiah has been urged to stick it out at Arsenal following his hat-trick in Arsenal's 5-1 EFL Cup rout over Sunderland.
The 22-year-old contract rebel started the scoring in the 17th minute and then notched two more in the second half on a comfortable night for the Gunners.
At the start of December, Arsenal offered the England U21 international a contract extension only for Nketiah to reject the deal.
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Paul Merson has his say on Nketiah
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes the striker should reconsider his decision and remain at the Emirates.
Merson told Sky Sports: "My advice to him is to stick at Arsenal for two or three more years.
"You could go to a bottom half Premier League team working off scraps. You have to weigh all that stuff up."
Aubameyang saga
The recent disciplinary saga with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has seen the Gabon international stripped of the captain's armband and frozen out of the first team by Mikel Arteta.
That has opened the door for a space in his position, with Gabriel Martinelli grabbing his opportunity with three goals in two appearances.
But Nketiah hasn't started a Premier League match this season, and his demand for more first-team football is the reason for his dismissal of the extension offer.
Former frontman Kevin Campbell doesn't see Nketiah changing his mind with an experienced striker top of Arteta's wishlist. He said: "The likelihood is he won't stay at the club because the top end of the pitch needs more experience.
"They're going to need more quality and experience there, and that could push Eddie down the pecking order."
Will Nketiah stay at Arsenal?
Arteta has publicly stated that he wants to keep the young forward at the club, but the longer he chooses not to start him in the Premier League, the less likely Nketiah is to stay beyond the summer.
In October 2020, Nketiah broke Alan Shearer's goalscoring record for England U21s when he netted his 14th goal for the Young Lions. He finished with 16.
With pace, movement and finishing ability, his dream of pulling on a senior England jersey is being hampered by a lack of Premier League action.
Until Arteta uses him in the top league, Nketiah will continue to seek first-team opportunities elsewhere.
