Arsenal are set to recall young striker Eddie Nketiah from his loan spell at Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed.
The 20-year-old striker has struggled for regular game time at Elland Road this season, scoring three times in 16 appearances – which predominantly came from the bench.
Nketiah started both of Leeds’ most recent two games, a thrilling 5-4 win over Birmingham and a 1-1 draw with Championship promotion rivals West Brom, with suggestions from some that Bielsa was trying to convince Arsenal to allow him to stay.
He was taken off at half-time against the Baggies, with his replacement Patrick Bamford later forcing a Leeds equaliser – and Bielsa admitted it may have been the last time Nketiah would be seen in his side’s shirt.
“Yes, we know that he’s not going to continue with us,” Bielsa told reporters.
“We are sorry for this. It’s a pity for us, and of course for Arsenal and him, maybe he didn’t expect what we offer them.
“But we feel gratitude for him, the time he was with us.
“He’s a great player, an excellent professional. He had very good behaviour. A gentleman in every sense.
"We are grateful with him. Also to his family and his club, they developed Eddie with a very good education. For this reason it’s a pity he leaves us because we were happy with him."
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