Mikel Arteta says that Eddie Nketiah will not be leaving Arsenal in the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old spent six months on loan at Leeds in the 2019/20 season, but was recalled to North London after a lack of minutes in the Championship.
Nketiah has made 12 appearances in the Premier League for the Gunners this season, but only three of those have been in the starting XI.
However, he has started every Europa League game so far in 2020/21, scoring three goals as the Gunners topped their group.
The Gunners striker has been the subject of much interest in the build up to the window, with West Ham strongly linked following the sale of Sebastien Haller to Ajax.
Nketiah is into the final 18 months of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, and the Hammers are said to be keen on gauging whether Arsenal would be open to a sale of the England Under-21 international.
However, when asked about whether he was considering allowing Nketiah to leave the club, Arteta simply told reporters: "No."
Arsenal are currently well stacked in the striker role, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette ahead of Nketiah in the pecking order.
There is also pressure from the youth team below Nketiah, with Folarin Balogun hoping to burst into the first team.
Balogun has just six months remaining on his current deal, however, and is another striker that has been the subject of speculation in the January transfer window.
The 19-year-old is free to agree pre-contract terms with clubs in Europe ahead of a free transfer in the summer should he wish.
