Eddie Nketiah is to stay at Arsenal for the remainder of the season after it was decided he would not be loaned out in the January transfer window.
football.london understands, as reported by The Telegraph, the 20-year-old has been training with the Gunners' first team since being recalled from his spell at Leeds United and has impressed head coach Mikel Arteta.
Bristol City were among the favourites to secure a loan move for Nketiah this month but will miss out on him for the second time in two transfer windows.
Having been back at the club for the past two weeks, this isn't a decision Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy would have made lightly as the focus on how they nurture young talent has increased massively.
"We have to think mid-long term with Eddie," Arteta said on Nketiah following the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on January 11 .
"We have to respect his evolution and development, we don't have to make a decision just based on two or three games."
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang suspension confirmed to last the maximum three games, Nketiah could now have his chance to shine in the Arsenal first team. Aubameyang will miss the Gunners' matches against Sheffield United, Chelsea and Bournemouth which could give the youngster a good run of games before the Premier League mid-season break.
The form of Alexandre Lacazette may also help Nketiah's cause as the Frenchman has gone six games without a goal. On the other hand, while at Leeds, Nketiah was averaging a goal every 133 minutes - a record that would put him in great stead if it could be replicated in any way at Arsenal this season.
Of course, the youngster made an instant impact on his competitive Arsenal debut netting twice against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup as well as scoring on his last Premier League outing against Burnley last season.
He carried this form into Arsenal's pre-season tour of America in 2019 when he scored three goals in the International Champions Cup games against Fiorentina and Bayern Munich.
