Mikel Arteta slammed for £30m transfer error as Arsenal told to ‘forget about’ dream deal

Mikel Arteta is looking to ramp up Arsenal’s Premier League title bid, but has been told he is already on the backfoot following a major error he made last summer

Mikel Arteta has been told to ‘forget about’ signing top target Alexander Isak – and warned he should have kept hold of Eddie Nketiah.

Nketiah came through Arsenal’s academy before being sold to Crystal Palace in a £30million deal last summer. The Englishman has struggled for game time at Selhurst Park and is yet to score in the Premier League for the Eagles.

He had mainly been used as an impact player at Arsenal, scoring 31 goals across his four years in the first-team. Goals are something the current Gunners side are badly missing as they look to mount a title challenge, while they are light in numbers up top following Gabriel Jesus’ injury blow.

Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood believes Nketiah could have been the man to provide goals. Sherwood has insisted that the Gunners are likely ‘ruing’ the fact they let him leave the club.

“I’m not sure the player who they need in front of goal is going to be out there in the January market. I think they’ll be looking for it, perhaps on a loan to bring someone in,” he told Premier League Productions.

“They’re probably ruing the fact that Eddie Nketiah has left. I’m not saying he’s the answer but he would’ve been someone who would move in there now – he’s a sniffer around the box, who can score goals, chances like that tonight you would’ve seen Eddie Nketiah taking them, even with a bit-part he played at Arsenal.

“Now he’s gone, is there someone else out there who they could possibly bring up from the academy? They’re good at that, Nwaneri has come in and been outstanding, there’s probably not another kid, a No.9.”

Arsenal have been eyeing a move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who is in red-hot form. But with the Magpies set to charge more than £115m for the Swedish star, Sherwood has told the Gunners to ‘forget’ about a move for him.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Arsenal have kept Eddie Nketiah? Comment below.

“Everyone is looking for the same players around the league, especially at the top of the league, very difficult to improve on the players they already have,” Sherwood added.

“That man to come in and score 10 goals between now and the end of the season… almost impossible to find. I think from here on in they cannot lose more than two games between now and the end, which is very difficult.

“Man City have done it in the past, put a run together like that, I don’t see them being Man City… they haven’t got that goalscorer – they are one player away from winning this Premier League. They’re trying to find that player, they’re all looking for him.

“Yes, he’s out there, it’s Alexander Isak but you cannot get him now. Forget about it, what solutions are you going to find this season? Are they going to be solid enough at the back not to concede enough goals and just to score a few goals from set-pieces to win the league? I doubt that.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.