Contract rebel Eddie Nketiah can follow the ideal example set by former Chelsea star Tammy Abraham before making the final call on his Arsenal future. Nketiah’s deal will expire at the end of the season and it appears increasingly likely that the striker will depart the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer.
The 22-year-old made his debut for the Gunners in 2017, going on to make more than 70 appearances for them since then.
But he has struggled to hold down a regular place in their starting line-up, instead mainly being selected as a substitute.
That trend has continued this term, with Alexandre Lacazette instead preferred to lead the line despite his own contract coming to an end soon.
Nketiah has been limited to just three Premier League appearances this season, all from the bench, though he has showed his goalscoring talent in the Carabao Cup, netting five times in three games.
With clear scoring talent, the striker is now desperate for playing time to finally make his mark on senior football.
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The Englishman twice finished as the second-top goalscorer in the Championship, first when he helped to save Bristol from relegation and then when he fired Villa to promotion.
Those loan spells, in which he scored an astonishing 60 goals across the three campaigns, ultimately earned him his chance with his parent club.
When he returned to Chelsea from Villa, Frank Lampard quickly made him his first-choice striker, with Abraham scored 18 goals in his first season under the Englishman.
There were concerns that he would run down his contract, but he signed a one-year extension after finally being given his chance.
Abraham left Chelsea in the summer, with Lampard’s replacement Thomas Tuchel willing to let him leave for Roma.
Despite his exit in the summer, Nketiah can still look at Abraham’s situation as the ideal example for what could be the final six months of his Arsenal career.
A loan spell at either another Premier League club or in the Championship would serve as the chance for him to prove his worth to both the Gunners and potential suitors.
With Arsenal on the search for a new man to lead the line, a successful loan move could help Nketiah to set out his case to be that player.
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