Marcelo Bielsa has taken aim at Arsenal once more, with the Leeds United boss calling his transfer at Elland Road ‘a lie’.  

Leeds signed Nketiah on loan from Arsenal late in the summer transfer window, but he found opportunities limited, starting just twice in the Championship ahead of Patrick Bamford.

Nevertheless, he scored five goals in Leeds colours (including two in the League Cup), with Championship goals against Brentford, Barnsley and Preston North End worth five points to the promotion-chasing Whites.

That earned him the chance to start against Queens Park Rangers in early November, but an abdominal injury set him back, with Bamford moving back up the pecking order.

There was growing frustration at Arsenal and within the Nketiah camp over a lack of playing time, which came to a head as 2020 approached.

Despite starting his final two outings for Leeds, Arsenal recalled him before adding him to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Leeds have signed Jean-Kevin Augustin to replace the outgoing striker, but there’s still a sense of frustration at Elland Road, mainly coming through Bielsa.

He discussed the Gunners’ decision in a press conference late this week, describing it as a lie and defending not handing the 20-year-old enough playing time.

"Nketiah arrived here because Leeds was the ideal place to grow, because it was me who was going to coach him," he told LUTV.

"I know who I am and I don’t believe those messages. Everything around the transfer of Eddie was a lie. Nketiah came to play, in any way. He didn't play and he left. 

"But even worse, because I am in two situations, I put Bamford on the bench and in two months he was with us, he wasn't able to play. One player in six months plays two matches, thinks he will arrive to one club and play is underestimating what Leeds is as a club, a team and an institution. 

"I think that Nketiah is going to be one of the best English players. He was a starter twice, moving one player like Bamford, a great player and a day later he decides to leave the club.

"Again, the agreement we did with Arsenal, because players don’t go to another club just to play. They go to try to compete with another teammate to play. Because if you are going to be a player of a top level club and you cannot deserve one place in one team that is supposed to have a player of less level, so you have to find a club that tells you that you don’t have to play whatever happens.

"The manager who says this lies to him. I’m talking about Nketiah, great player, great pro, great human." 

Leeds are in action this weekend against Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening, looking to gather some momentum back after a spell of just two wins in nine outings.

The Verdict  

You can sense that Bielsa is really hurt by Nketiah heading back to Arsenal, particularly with the blame pointed at the lack of playing time he was given.

Nketiah would’ve got a run of games over November had injury not denied him, then by the time he left, he’d moved ahead of Bamford in the pecking order, according to Bielsa.

However, that was too late in the day and the damage was done.

Leeds now have Augustin on board, with it probably best for all parties if everyone moves on now.

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