With the Premier League campaign commencing last weekend, Arsenal started on the right foot with a win over Wolves, with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka coming up with the goods. Two players that failed to feature in any capacity during the game were Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah.
While Ramsdale has been perpetually relegated to the bench with Mikel Arteta favoring David Raya instead, Nketiah has been on the periphery and it’s very evident that his time with the club has come to an end, as he has been actively seeking a move elsewhere and was very close to signing for Olympique Marseille before talks between both clubs broke down and the deal fell through. Marseille signed Elye Wahi from SC Montpellier and Nketiah remained in the trenches.
There was talk of Nketiah potentially joining Bournemouth after the club sold Dominic Solanke to Tottenham for £65 million pounds, but in swift fashion, the club signed Evanilson from FC Porto, with Nketiah looking like a fall back option if the move for the Brazilian forward failed to materialize. Just when we thought we would go through another campaign with Nketiah rotting on the bench and coming on for a handful of appearances while earning large wads of cash, Nottingham Forest has made an offer of £25 million for the young Englishman, that has been outrightly rejected by Arsenal. Arsenal failed to reach an agreement with Marseille over the valuation of the player and they are currently at loggerheads with Nottingham Forest. We can only hope that Nottingham returns with an improved offer but it will be interesting to see how Nketiah fares against the likes of Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Nketiah needs this move, Arsenal wouldn’t mind getting another £35 million in its coffers and with 11 days left between now and the end of the transfer window, let’s see how things pan out.
There’s another potential transfer departure that is imminent but it’s a bit more difficult than Nketiah’s. Outfield players can be bought for cover, backup and sometimes, luxury, when you consider whatever the hell is going on at Chelsea, but for goalkeepers, it’s a different ball game, that’s I’m keen to see what would happen regarding Ramsdale’s imminent exit from the club. The English shot stopper has made it clear that he cannot spend another season on the bench to Raya, so he would fancy his chances fighting against Jose Sa, as Wolves has made a loan offer with the option of a permanent deal for Arsenal’s deputy goalie.
Arsenal will definitely prefer to sell Ramsdale but goalkeepers haven’t really been on high demand, and you also have to consider the fact that Ramsdale signed a long term deal a couple of seasons ago, increasing his stock value. Consistent time on the bench hasn’t helped, but Arsenal and Ramsdale believe that things can be settled amicably, in the players bid to seek pastures anew.
Arsenal has already identified Joan Garcia from Espanyol as the potential replacement, and one would imagine that a player like Garcia will be more than content to warm the bench till he gets his chances in the domestic cup competitions. Hopefully, he will not be another Runar Alex Runarsson.
With Nketiah and Ramsdale leaving, Arsenal will be losing two home grown talent, but I don’t think the club wlll have any issues replacing them with some youngins.
Sayonara.
