Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hails Eddie Nketiah's Leeds United improvement despite lack of match action

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta believes Eddie Nketiah has improved despite his lack of match action with Leeds United.

The 20-year-old Gunners academy product has been recalled to North London having made just two starts for the Whites after joining in the summer on a season-long loan deal.

Nketiah bagged three Championship goals in 500 minutes of league action but failed to dislodge Patrick Bamford as Marcelo Bielsa's preferred number nine in West Yorkshire.

The England Under-21s international - along with his parent club - made the decision to depart Elland Road this month in search of first-team football.

Nketiah had started the Whites last two fixtures against Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion but was a half-time substitute at the Hawthorns before saying his goodbyes to the travelling support.

Arteta, though, believes that the young forward has benefited greatly from his short spell at Thorp Arch despite struggling to break into the starting line-up on a permanent basis.

"I think the environment that he's been living in has improved him as a player, 100 per cent," Arteta revealed.

"He played some minutes, not as much as we wanted, but he's a kid with incredible potential and we have to make a decision for the club, not for the next four months but for his career.

"We have to sit down with him, hear from him - that's very important because we need to know what he needs as well - and make the right decision for the next five months."

Asked about Nketiah's immediate future and whether he will head back out on loan, Arteta added: "I think the first idea was that he was going to be on loan for the rest of the season.

"We have to assess the situation again now. At the moment [I don't know] but I will have some answers very soon."