Eddie Nketiah remains on course to leave Arsenal potentially next month — despite Mikel Arteta’s latest pleas for him to stay.

Nketiah fired the Gunners into the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a hat-trick against Sunderland on Tuesday but sees his contract expire next summer.

Arsenal’s attempts to convince him to sign a new deal have been rebuffed with the striker, 22, seeking more regular football.

Nketiah is the subject of interest from clubs in Germany and France and will be free to sign a pre-contract with a foreign side from January 1.

Should he move abroad as a free agent, Arsenal will not be entitled to any compensation as he will be 23 when he leaves. However, a cut-price January move has not been ruled out. West Ham, Crystal Palace and Brighton are among his Premier League admirers.

Arteta said: ‘We are trying really hard to do the best that we can. The contract has an expiry date and you cannot control that.

‘We have had discussions with Eddie for a long time. He is a player we admire and want to keep. We will continue to do our best to keep him because we want him to be part of our project.’

Meanwhile, Arsenal have yet to begin talks over a new long-term deal for their teenage star Charlie Patino, who marked his debut with a goal against Sunderland.

The midfielder signed his first professional deal after turning 17, which could only run until 2023, but became eligible for a longer contract after his 18th birthday in October. Arsenal are expecting few problems once discussions start, but Patino’s progress is being monitored by Barcelona.

Spain, for whom Patino is eligible via his father, hope to persuade him to switch his international allegiance from England.

Asked if Patino could receive more game time when Arsenal’s options are reduced during next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, Arteta said: ‘If we need him, we’ll use him. We have to throw him in when we believe he is ready and he is making the right steps.’