Four goals in his first six Leeds United matches ensured Eddie Nketiah was a striker the fans were desperate to see more and more of. The Arsenal forward became an emblem of Marcelo Bielsa’s unwavering loyalty to the core group he had at Elland Road.
Patrick Bamford would have to play through nine consecutive matches without a goal before Bielsa blinked on Nketiah. The number nine was on a dire run of form while the loanee seemed to score every time he came off the bench.
In truth, Nketiah only scored three goals in nine games across the same period Bamford was drawing blanks, but he was getting just a fraction of the same minutes on the field. Injury unfortunately struck Nketiah just as he was preparing for that full league debut for Leeds.
READ MORE: Leeds United's best young talent reminded daily why transfers away do not have to be the answer
Queens Park Rangers were the visitors to Elland Road on November 2, 2019, and Nketiah was supposed to finally be the main man at the head of the Leeds attack. The injury proved to be a sliding doors moment for the Arsenal man.
Nketiah would not return to the pitch for another month and by then December was imminent with a January decision needed from Arsenal. The Gunners could only see a talented asset with two cup starts to his name and now a month’s worth of fitness work just to get back on terms with Bamford.
Nketiah would return to London, but in the two years since he went back to Mikel Arteta, he has found opportunities hard to come by. The striker’s contract is now expiring this summer and as it stands he will be walking away from his boyhood club at the end of June.
Ironically, Nketiah is now being played more consistently than at any stage in the last few years with four consecutive Premier League starts under his belt as Leeds roll into town. The 22-year-old scored twice in a 4-2 win at Chelsea last month.
football.london, our sister site, this week reported Arsenal remained hopeful Nketiah may yet sign a new deal before his current terms expire. Either way, as he prepares to start against the only other club he has played for professionally, Nketiah’s audition for new terms or a new club continues on Sunday.
If Leeds are to get anything from arguably the toughest of their final four matches, they must keep the lively poacher quiet. Nketiah started and scored in the 2-0 EFL Cup win for Arsenal against Leeds last October at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners will play a major role in this season's relegation battle. Nketiah will hope his audition for a summer of transition extends to the final day of the campaign when Everton, United's big relegation rivals, visit the capital.
