Arsenal legend Paul Merson Slams Decision to Extend Contract of Eddie Nketiah

• Paul Merson says incoming Ghanaian forward Eddie Nketiah is not good enough to fire Arsenal back into the top-four
• According to the Arsenal legend, Eddie Nketiah wouldn’t even start for Premier League rivals Fulham or Everton
• Nketiah has signed a new five-year-deal and will wear the Arsenal's legendary No.14 - the shirt worn by all-time record scorer Thierry Henry

Former Arsenal player Paul Merson has claimed Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is not good enough to start for newly-promoted Fulham.

Nektiah made 92 first-team appearances and scored 23 goals since his first-team debut in 2017.

The 23-year-old finished last season in good form, starting Arsenal's last eight league games and scoring five goals.

Nketiah agreed a new five-year contract with the Gunners last week, having finished the 2021-22 campaign in fine form, starting Arsenal’s last eight league games and netting five goals.

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But Merson isn’t convinced that Nketiah can lead the line for Arsenal and says he wouldn’t start for Fulham or Everton.

‘All Arsenal have got up front right now is Eddie Nketiah, who recently signed a new contract when it looked like he might leave,’ Merson told the Daily Star.

‘And no disrespect to Nketiah but Mikel Arteta must realise he won’t get you into the top four. Absolutely no chance. That’s a fact.

‘Nketiah can’t be spearheading your Champions League push. He’s not getting in ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison at Everton and they almost got relegated.

‘He’s not getting in at Fulham ahead of Aleksandr Mitrovic and they’ve only just been promoted. I’m not having a go at him but he’s not getting you top four.’

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Merson’s comments come as Arsenal close in on a £45m deal for Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus.

English Born Ghanaian Forward Eddie Nketiah Reveals How Chelsea Let Him Go as a Teenager

Sports Brief earlier reported that incoming Ghana striker, Eddie Nketiah, has shared the story behind his Chelsea exit and joining Arsenal as a teenager.

The Arsenal forward, who recently signed a contract extension with the Gunners, started his career at rivals Chelsea.

In an interview with the Beautiful Game Podcast, Nketiah revealed he was surprised by his release but was lucky to join Arsenal within a short period.