A few Leeds United fans have been replying to a recent post on Twitter by Eddie Nketiah, after the on-loan Arsenal striker reacted to the Whites being drawn against the Gunners in the FA Cup Third Round.
Marcelo Bielsa’s United will travel to the Emirates Stadium on the weekend commencing Friday, January 3 to Monday, January 6, 2020, for what will be our first trip to the red side of North London since 2012.
A Thierry Henry strike settled the FA Cup Third Round tie that January, having exited the competition in the same round against the Gunners the previous year after taking Arsene Wenger’s Reds to a replay at Elland Road.
We have not beaten Arsenal in any competition since recording a 3-2 win at Highbury in May 2003, for what was our 41st victory over the Gunners.
Number 42 will have to be achieved without Nketiah, though, as the striker – who joined us on a one-season deal in August – will not be able to compete against his parent side in the FA Cup clash.
Under Section 15, sub-section J (iv) of the FA’s latest rulebook, it is stated: “The Association will not give permission for players on loan or work experience to play against the lending club.”
Nketiah has made 19 first-team appearances for Arsenal since his debut in the Europa League against BATE Borisov in September 2017, scoring three goals across all competitions.
The £7.2million-rated star has already bettered his goal total across all competitions with United, having scored thrice in the Championship alongside two strikes in the Carabao Cup, but is yet to start a game outside the EFL competition under Bielsa.
Should Nketiah start at Huddersfield on Saturday?
Yes
No
News of Arsenal hosting Leeds in the FA Cup Third Round saw the Gunners’ official Twitter account share a post directed at Nketiah, to which the England U21 striker sought to share himself.
— Eddie Nketiah (@EddieNketiah9) December 2, 2019
Here are some of the reactions offered by Leeds fans to Nketiah’s post…
You have to let Eddie play after this tweet. Best for both clubs and Eddie himself. #lufc #arsenal
— FOOTBALL (@For_Yorkshire) December 2, 2019
Eddie gets recalled, plays and bags against us….. 😂 hopefully he stays for the season, class act 👌🏼
— Liam (@LRoche04) December 2, 2019
Really hope they let you play, but damage you’d do to Mustaphi mentally would be unrepairable.
— Morley white (@morleywhites) December 2, 2019
Winner gets to keep you permanently is only fair..
— Josh 🦏 (@firthleeds) December 2, 2019
Please stay and smash a hat-trick against them! #LUFC #MOT
— Adam Zimmer (@AdamDZimmer) December 2, 2019
Stay @LUFC and beat the club that didn’t want you enough to keep you, You will have more success with Leeds than you will at Arsenal.
— Darren M Gittins (@DarrenGittins) December 2, 2019
One you’ll have to sit out Eddie
Unless you make your transfer a permanent one
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Dumpfor (@Dumpforsp) December 2, 2019
In other Leeds United news, Bielsa is expected to have a £2.25million-rated man available for this weekend’s West Yorkshire Derby at Huddersfield Town.