Arsenal are set to sell several players in the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta aims to upgrade the depth in his squad.
Arteta rarely rotated his squad in the second half of the season, and some fringe players were completely starved of game time.
Homegrown trio Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah hardly started at all in 2024, and all three players could depart Arsenal this summer.
Unlike other fringe players in the past, their lack of game-time can be attributed more to the quality in the first team, rather than their own ability.
Nketiah could be set to fetch a big fee, as several Premier League sides are interested in the striker, and he could become a success wherever he goes.
Eddie Nketiah would thrive at a different club if he leaves Arsenal
Nketiah is one of the most criticised players in the squad, despite not starting a single Premier League game in 2024.
The 24-year-old started the season superbly with goals against Nottingham Forest and Fulham earning him an England call-up, but he found himself out of the team as Kai Havertz found his form as a striker.
Nketiah is often criticised for not contributing as much in build-up play as Gabriel Jesus, but this is not where he thrives. He is a poacher, who thrives in the penalty box when fed chances, but Arsenal do not play to his strengths.
Arsenal often have to attack against deep defences, and Nketiah gets less space, and receives the ball less, than he would if playing for a counter-attacking side with space to run into, and a move could see him explode in the Premier League.
Eddie Nketiah can copy Rodrigo Muniz and Jean Philippe-Mateta revivals
Fulham, Wolves and Crystal Palace are credited with an interest in Nketiah, who is valued at around £40m, and they clearly see the potential in the attacker.
Fulham currently have Rodrigo Muniz upfront, who was heavily criticised in his early days at Fulham, but enjoyed a surprisingly outstanding run of form as he scored eight in eight games between February and March, having scored once in the rest of the season combined.
Jean Philippe-Mateta enjoyed a similar revival at Crystal Palace. The striker scored just three goals under Roy Hodgson in the first half of the season, but scored 13 as Oliver Glasner injected new life into his team.
A striker of Nketiah’s level, as a player with 38 goals for Arsenal, could thrive in an environment where he is trusted as the regular starter, in a team which plays on the counter, and it would be no surprise at all to see him excel in the Premier League outside of Arteta’s system, which requires the striker to contribute more in deeper positions.