Sat Oct 05 22:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Former Arsenal Winger Theo Walcott Believes Eddie Nketiah Should Have Left Sooner
**London, England** – Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has suggested that Eddie Nketiah should have left the club earlier for his own benefit. Nketiah, who joined Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day for £30 million, spent over a decade at Arsenal but found himself mostly as a backup striker under manager Mikel Arteta.
Walcott, speaking during BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage of Palace’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, said: “It was a move that probably should have happened earlier. It is a move which can go well and Palace is a good football club. In time he will be a good signing for Palace.”
Nketiah, despite being handed the iconic No. 14 shirt previously worn by Thierry Henry and Walcott, was ultimately looking for more playing time. He explained: “It was about me being happy. I wasn’t unhappy… but at the end of the day, a football player wants to play football.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu both expressed their gratitude to Nketiah for his time at the club, acknowledging his desire for regular first-team football. They wished him well in his new chapter at Palace.
Nketiah’s departure marks the end of a long journey for the forward, who rose through Arsenal’s academy. While his exit may have come later than some anticipated, it ultimately serves as a testament to the importance of prioritizing a player’s individual development and desire to play regularly.
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