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Football London
Football London
Sport
Greg Johnson

'Leeds has really backfired' - Arsenal fans fume over Eddie Nketiah's role under Marcelo Bielsa

Arsenal fans are less than impressed with Marcelo Bielsa's usage of Eddie Nketiah this season.

Despite making an impact off the bench for Leeds United, the on-loan striker has not been granted a larger role in the plans of the Championship title contenders.

Supporters of the Gunners had hoped that the youngster would pick up more minutes while playing for the Whites, especially after proving his impact as a game-changing substitute.

He has so far scored five goals in 14 games in England's second division and the Carabao Cup and is highly rated by fans at the Emirates Stadium and Elland Road.

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Nketiah could see his loan spell with Leeds cut short in the January window to free the 20-year-old up to leave for stint elsewhere, or remain at Arsenal for the remainder of the season.

Bristol City have been named as a potential destination while there is growing support to bring him back to London Colney to act as a third-choice option behind Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.

Nketiah made his debut for the Gunners as a substitute in the 2017/18 season and scored his first senior goal against Burnley in the final game of the 2018/19 league campaign.

On social media fans of both Arsenal and Leeds had their say after the young striker was once again left on the sidelines by Bielsa as the Whites beat Hull City 2-0 to go top of the Championship.

Arsene Wenger granted Nketiah his debut in the Arsenal first team in his final season as manger of the Gunners.

The academy graduate played under Unai Emery last season and if he were to return to the club to play a part in their plans for the second half of their 2019/20 campaign he would be reunited with his former Under-21 boss, Freddie Ljungberg.

Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson have all had chances in the Premier League or Europa League and Nketiah could potentially slot back into the squad in January.

However, it is more likely that he is sent out again on loan - although it remains to be seen whether there are any plans to consider letting him play in a foreign league such as the Bundesliga.

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