Arsenal are not interested in selling Eddie Nketiah to West Ham this month, according to reports. Nketiah has emerged as one of a number of strikers West Ham are targeting after they sold Sebastien Haller to Ajax earlier this week.
Nketiah has scored five goals in 20 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season.
The Gunners academy graduate was briefly preferred to Alexandre Lacazette earlier in the campaign before the Frenchman's recent rich vein in front of goal.
However, he has not started in the Premier League since the 2-1 loss to Everton in December.
Nketiah is England's record goalscorer at under-21 level and has been reported as a target for West Ham following Haller's exit.
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Arsenal transfer news: Eddie Nketiah has been linked with a move to West Ham (Image: EXPRESS)
Arteta explained his comments by saying Balogun's agent wasn't stopping a deal but that there is yet to be an agreement.
"No, I'm not saying he's stopping," Arteta said.
"I'm saying that we need to find an agreement with him. We are negotiating with an agent, with a player that wants to stay at the club and we need to find an agreement.
"I'm telling you that we are doing everything we can to keep him here and hopefully from the other part they are doing the same and they defend the same interests, which is the players' interest, which is to stay at the football club and be successful with us."