Here is your Arsenal morning digest for Friday, April 17.
Oxlade-Chamberlain explains Arsenal exit
In a recent interview with fellow former Gunner Ian Wright, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed that not getting enough chances in his favourite position is the reason for his Emirates departure back in 2017.
“I wouldn’t say I wanted to leave Arsenal because I didn’t believe we could win,” he said.
“I just didn’t believe I was going to be able to play where I wanted to play and that was it.
“Me winning the Champions League was obviously a dream come true and a massive bonus but I didn’t feel like ‘Ah, I told you so’ [at Arsenal].”
Here are the full quotes from his revealing interview.
Nketiah on the key Emery and Arteta differences
We’ve taken a deeper look into Eddie Nketiah’s career to date, and what it says about the current manager Mikel Arteta.
Last summer, the highly-rated young forward was allowed to leave on loan to further his development under the respected Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United.
But starts were few and far between for Nketiah in the Championship, and Arteta saw fit to cut short the 20-year-old’s season-long loan in January.
“It’s just about working hard, I’m grateful he’s given me the opportunity he has and I just want to keep learning,” Nketiah said in February.
“He’s a great manager and has a real determination to help and improve players, young players and the senior players as well.
“I just want to keep learning of him, make sure my mentality is right each day and keep improving.”
Here’s the full piece on how Arteta has utilised Nketiah since his return to Arsenal.
Ex-Arsenal starlet makes shock transfer claim
Former Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali says the Gunners tried to keep him before he secured a permanent transfer to Huesca last year.
Having won the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament as Nigeria won the Under-17 World Cup in 2015, there was plenty of hype behind the youngster when he signed for Arsenal a few months later.
But after three and a half years, a series of loans away and no appearances for the first team, he was sold to Spanish outfit Huesca last summer.
“The deal was even done the last day of the transfer window, they didn't want me to leave but at the same time I was giving them reasons why I should leave Arsenal,” said Nwakali in a revealing interview.
“Staying in England and not playing, going on loan, I went on loan three times.
“It’s better I go to a place where I can settle instead of going to a place where after one year I leave. It was difficult moving around, from the Netherlands and then Portugal.
“Even if it’s going to take time, I’ll work it out, I have still got age on my side."
