[ad_1]
Arsenal secured a huge three points in their bid to secure Champions League football on Wednesday, as they beat London rivals Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
The Gunners went ahead early on courtesy of Eddie Nketiah’s first Premier League goal of the season, and Emile Smith-Rowe reinstated their lead after Timo Werner had levelled things up.
Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta was next on the scoresheet, though, equalising once again before half-time.
In the second half, the visitors took control, though, with Nketiah putting them in front once again, before Bukayo Saka won and then converted a late penalty to ensure the three points.
It was a huge evening for Nketiah, who had only scored in the Carabao Cup before facing Chelsea.
The 22-year-old has struggled to maintain a starting spot in Mikel Arteta’s side, with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Gabriel Martinelli seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.
The youngster has been heavily linked with a move away from the club having rejected contract offers from his current side, and it now appears that he has options on the table.
Nketiah put the Gunners ahead twice against Chelsea
According to The Daily Mail, the Englishman is a target for fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace, who are interested in signing the striker when his current deal expires this summer.
The Eagles were linked with the England youth international in January, but a move never materialised.
German side Borussia Monchengladbach are another side credited with an interest, and Nketiah would be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club, having entered into the final six months of his contract.
Arsenal haven’t given up hope of persuading the forward to extend his stay in North London, though, and are hopeful that he may still change his mind and agree to a new deal.
Arteta is aware that he may not be able to meet the player’s demands over playing time, though, and admitted after the game at Stamford Bridge that he had not played him enough.
“If Eddie hasn’t played more, it’s my fault because as a manager I have missed something or haven’t had the courage to play him more, and today he showed me again how wrong I was,” the Spaniard told reporters.
The striker was prolific at youth level for both Arsenal and England, scoring 16 goals in 17 games for the young lions, but has managed just 25 goals in 105 games at senior level for both the Gunners and Leeds United.
[ad_2]
Source link
