The Gunners stepped up and signed Eddie Nketiah to a new long-term contract.

Arsenal refused to risk losing the 23-year-old Nketiah. This means the promising striker will no longer enter free agency at the end of this month.

In an interview with The Athletic, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the deal as beneficial to both the club and Nketiah.

“I’m delighted Eddie is staying with us. He represents what we are all about and all the values of the club,” Arteta said. “We are very happy that he has extended his contract and now we have to get to work and continue to develop the great talent and person that we have in him.”

Previous to this signing, observers speculated that the former England U21 captain would be entertaining other suitors. Among these suitors were rivals Crystal Palace and some Bundesliga clubs.

In the end, however, Eddie Nketiah decided to remain with the Gunners, with which he has been for seven years. He debuted for the north London side in late 2017 and went on loan to Leeds in 2019. He returned to Arsenal in early 2020, where he has become one of their most dangerous goal-scorers.

 

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Nketiah, in fact, has replaced Alexandre Lacazette in the club's starting eleven. He also scored five goals in his last seven English Premier League matches.

To start Arsenal's next campaign, Eddie Nketiah is also set to wear the club's iconic number 14 shirt, which once belonged to the legendary Thierry Henry. If Nketiah can approximate Henry's success with Arsenal, this may prove to be a golden signing for the Gunners.