Arsenal's fringe men counterattacked into the main force but were destined to leave, and it was still difficult for the manager to change his mind after apologizing

Nketiah's worth has never been higher. The 22-year-old striker is expected to face Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, starting his fifth consecutive Premier League game. That would be a lucrative reward for his recent great performances, which helped spark a shift on the Gunners' offensive end. After three consecutive defeats last month, Arteta's side appeared vulnerable in the Champions League battle, but the decision to replace the frustrated Lacazette with Nketiah helped Revive Hope for Arsenal.

He scored two goals in his win over Chelsea and then an impressive performance in his wins over Manchester United and West Ham. "I think Nketiah is the best player on the pitch," British football star Graeme Soenes said after a 2-1 win at london stadium last Sunday, a match that brought Arsenal back to the top four. "He was always full of threats, wanting to run forward without the ball and pull on the opponent's defence. I think he's great. "Nketiah's impressive end-of-season form has once again brought glimmer of light to his prospects for a contract extension at Arsenal.

The striker was sacked by Chelsea at the age of 15 and now has only a few months left on his contract with the Gunners. He has so far rejected the club's repeated attempts to extend his time at play, although further negotiations are expected in the coming weeks before a final decision is made. Nketiah recently admitted on social media: "There have been negotiations and offers for new contracts, but my goal is to play football and play regularly. I love Arsenal so I just want to focus on the season, make sure I finish the season in a good way and then sit down and see what the best opportunities are for me to be able to take those steps and grow. ”

Clubs in England and abroad have a keen interest in Nketiah. Crystal Palace, a longtime admirer of his, was close to signing him last summer, but the deal broke down after failing to agree on personal terms. But the South London club still maintained a keen interest in the attacker, while Brighton were also seen as watching the situation. A move to Germany could also be an option, with Bayer Leverkusen being one of several overseas clubs keen on the Gunners' fringe man. Arsenal still insist on wanting Nketiah to stay, and they want one last attempt to get him to sign off on a new contract. But to do that, they have to convince him that he is a key part of their long-term plan.

Over the past month, Arteta has been full of praise for Nketiah and has taken responsibility for his lack of playing time this season. "If there's one player I'm unfair to him, it's him," the Arsenal boss said, "he gave me everything I had to do something different, so if Nketiah didn't play more games, it's my fault because as a coach I missed something or I didn't have the courage to let him play more games." He's an extraordinary player and he's proven it, not just for me, but for the whole team, which is why he's so respected in the dressing room. ”

The truth, however, is that Nketiah had to wait until last month's match against Southampton to get his first Premier League start of the season. Although Aubameyang travelled to Barcelona in January, Lacazette contributed just four league goals – his worst stats since coming to North London from Lyon in 2017. Nketiah was given a chance in the cup, scoring five goals in five matches, including scoring a hat-trick in a quarter-final win over Sunderland. But the Premier League's starting line-up still didn't pick him, and despite being only 22 years old, that's what he's craving now.

'In order for me to take the next step and reach what I think I can achieve, I need to think about getting more playing time and playing opportunities. Speaking about his contract, Nketija told the media, "I signed a five-year contract when I was 18 (at Arsenal), how many starts have I made in those five years? I was on loan for six months and I'm here for the rest of the time and I've probably played 30 games. Some have played 30 games in a season. I want to participate in the competition. My goal is to play football, and that's everyone's goal. Covering last weekend's match against West Ham, Sonnes said he was "surprised" that Nketiah's contract was about to expire. "He's not going to lack a team that wants him," the Liverpool legend added.

While that may be the case, it is difficult to make too many accusations about the way Arsenal and Arteta have handled the situation. Nketiah had a chance to impress the team before this tournament, but he had few bright performances other than against lower league clubs in the cup. He has been battling for positions with Aubameyang and Lacazette, who have been top scorers until this season is in trouble. So, it's not hard to see why Nketiah has been struggling for playtime, and it must be noted that he is still only 22 years old.

Arsenal will change their attacking options in the summer, with Jesus and Calvert Lewin both targeting and Arteta looking to add more goals to his side. Contract talks with Nketiah will continue and Arsenal will point out they will return to European racing next season, so there will be more games to play. For now, however, a new deal is still unlikely to be reached as the young striker seeks a guarantee of a starting position that Arteta cannot offer. As a result, the player will need to make a major change in position to prevent him from leaving freely at the end of the season. Nketiah's worth has certainly never been higher, but his future seems to be moving further and further away from North London – whatever happens between now and the end of the season.