Arsenal set to announce new contract for striker in transfer blow to Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace will have to look elsewhere for fire power after Arsenal managed to convince top target Eddie Nketiah to sign a three-year contract.

The Eagles have been tracking the English U21 striker for years, with reports last January that they agreed personal terms with the player.

But a change in fortunes for the striker, with the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona and the poor form of Alexandre Lacazette, meant Nketiah gained a spot in the starting XI and scored 10 goals for the Gunners.

His goals helped Arsenal to a Europa League spot and now, according to the Evening Standard, the striker has now turned down a chance to move south of the river, and will instead stay and fight for his position at the Emirates.

The footballer and his family are currently on holiday but the deal is expected to be announced next week, with his entourage agreeing he is better off as the second choice at Arsenal than the main man at Crystal Palace.

Mikel Arteta has also reiterated his love for the forward insisting that he has always seen him as a key figure in his team.

The Arsenal manager said: “He doesn’t give us anything else than the best every single day.

“The way he trains, the way he wants to improve, the attention that he pays, how he behaves when he plays when he doesn’t play.

“He is just a phenomenal player and he has shown, not to me, I think to the whole team and that’s why he is so respected in the dressing room the type of person he is.”

Arsenal are also closing in on the signing of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, having held discussions with the player and his entourage.