Arsenal star Eddie Nketiah has 'no future' at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta and should leave the club, it has been claimed.
Nketiah came off the bench for the final eight minutes of Arsenal's 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, with Kai Havertz preferred to start up front in the absence of Gabriel Jesus.
Arteta's decision to bring on the England international so late was questioned by BBC commentator Alan Shearer, with the Spaniard only making the substitution after Liverpool scored their second goal.
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The 24-year-old has scored five Premier League goals this term, including a hat-trick against Sheffield United.
But his appearances from the start have been infrequent since then, and Crystal Palace are among the clubs to have been linked with signing the striker.
And according to former Blackburn striker and Premier League winner Chris Sutton, Nketiah must leave the club this month.
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Speaking on the It's All Kicking Off Podcast, Sutton explained: "If I'm Eddie Nketiah, I'm wondering how I'm benched, and [thinking], 'I don't have a future at Arsenal if I'm not starting as a central striker.
"[Arteta] is desperate, I get that. But what message does it send to Nketiah if Havertz is at number nine, what is Nketiah thinking?
"If I'm Nketiah, I'm thinking, 'I can't stay at Arsenal any longer'. If you play a guy who has shackles on, come on, he has no future at Arsenal."
The Gunners have reportedly set an asking price of £30 million, which appears to be partially fuelled by their desire to sell players in order to bring in reinforcements.
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Speaking about his transfer plans as the window opened, Arteta explained: "We're open for the transfer market, but the emphasis is of making the most of the players we have.
"We'll work with the club to understand if there are any possibilities, and whether we have any good options. But first of all, we will focus on the players we already have."
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Premier League, Transfers
Ryan Smart