News late last night from Sun reporter Alan Nixon might have been music to the ears of Leeds United fans but it was, at the same time, a crushing blow to hear for Bristol City fans.
The news itself was that Arsenal were unlikely to recall starlet striker Eddie Nketiah from his season-long loan deal at Elland Road. This decision comes in spite of the player reportedly being frustrated at the lack of game time that he has to press and what many perceived to be locked-on unhappiness from Arsenal at the striker’s inactivity.
Nixon’s report states that White’s fans can put that lingering doubts far from their minds saying that Arsenal “will not cut short” Nketiah’s loan deal at Elland Road “despite a lack of game time.” Whilst that news will gladden Whites fans, it will have the opposite effect on Bristol City fans who might have been hoping to take advantage of a Nketiah recall to the Emirates.
The Robins were one of the teams, alongside Leeds United, who entered into a ‘Dragon’s Den-style’ pitch to land the Arsenal starlet’s services for the 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship campaign. When news began to circulate that Arsenal might consider a recall of the 20-year-old, City’s CEO Mark Ashton confirmed they’d still be interested in him.
Quoted by Bristol Live, Ashton said of Nketiah and the Robins interest in him: “Should he become available he would be someone we would definitely consider if the fit was right and we were able to do it.” He went on to add: “We want to bring the right one in that’s talented, will fit with the group, aid the culture and get us more goals.”
Goals are definitely what Eddie Nketiah has in him and he has three goals and one assist in 273 minutes of football from 11 substitute appearances for Leeds in this season’s Championship. The news he is staying will be very welcome indeed as many supporters are convinced that the youngster still has a big part to play this season in the West Yorkshire club’s hopefully successful promotion charge.
However, for Bristol City fans it will be heavy news indeed that they will have to bear with many hoping the youngster would bring his attacking exploits to Ashton Gate and help fire the Robins into the promotion picture.
