Izuchukwu Okosi
Join our WhatsApp Channel
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger late Tuesday night revealed the one reason why striker Eddie Nketiah wants to leave the club in the aftermath of rejecting a new contract offer.
Nketiah was in splendid form for the Gunners in their 5-1 splendid win over Sunderland in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup as he scored a hat-trick and took home the match ball.
“That’s what I want [for him to stay],” Arteta said in response to the protracted contract negotiations between the club and Nketiah’s camp.
“His only thing is that he wants more minutes. That’s his desire.
“As a club and me personally I really want him to stay here and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Arteta stated.
Arteta who was also a former captain of the north London side had nice words for 18 year-old Chalie Patino who had a 10 minutes cameo appearance off the substitutes bench but capped it with a close range goal from a Nicolas Pepe assist who himself got on the scoresheet.
“He has a player who has a lot of personality,” Arteta said.
“I’m delighted for him because he’s a kid that we like very much.”
Patino is expected to play more of the Cup games and some f Premier League fixtures in January when the duo of Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
