After the deals for Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and Declan Rice, many Gooners have shared suggestions about who needs to join Arsenal next.
Among these suggestions are calls for Arteta to recruit a deputy for Bukayo Saka. Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Reiss Nelson, and Leandro Trossard can all play on the right wing, but they have other definitive roles. There may be a need to sign a right wing, but even so, whoever is needed as Saka’s backup needs to be willing to have limited game time, but be ready to step up and offer quality even in short stints. That’s a situation that may be hard to convince a new signing to accept.
Given this realisation, why can’t Ethan Nwaneri be Saka’s deputy?
Next season, the youngster, whom the Gunners fought so hard to keep by offering him a lucrative new deal to shun interest from other PL sides, ought to feature frequently.
In his record-breaking debut, the then 15-year-old featured in midfield. However, in Arsenal’s first preseason match against Nurnberg, which ended 1-1, he dazzled on the right wing. Of course, he is still not ripe, but he can be slowly eased into the team with brief chances when Saka deserves a rest.
Ethan Nwaneri vs nurnberg – tidy cameo pic.twitter.com/h7KilQpJIW
— 🍔 (@Lhastim3) July 13, 2023
The academy star will be comfortable with the brief opportunities he gets as he matures into a fully-fledged first-teamer.
With the huge number of games Arsenal will play next season, everyone with quality needs to be brought on board. In Nwaneri’s case, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Daniel O
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As far as I know, Nwaneri has always played in central positions. That makes him a candidate to replace Odegaard and Xhaka in the future
Saka’s successor could be Cozier-Duberry and his competitor could be Marquinhos this season. I’ve seen them play inverted-RW and their performances were good
Cozier-Duberry is a natural right winger and on the tour to the USA whereas Nwaneri has been left behind.
Both could have a big part to play in Arsenal’s future but not sure either are at the stage where you could say for certainty that they have a precise role in the squad next season even as back up.
Nice to know that Cozier-Duberry is going to the US. I hope Arteta can compare him with Saka and Marquinhos
He got the slot when Nelson pulled out with injury
Gai, I agree with you on Marquinhos and Duberry, Arteta needs to give this players confidence by using them in some EPL matches even if it’s 10 minutes.. He can u send then for cup matches too. Imagine if ESR and Saka were not given chances by Frederic Luberge when he was interim coach.
Yes. I think Marquinhos could become as successful as Martinelli at Arsenal, if he’s given the chance to compete with Saka. His performance in some EL games last year was good
Not ready for First team.
Nwaneri shoulb be first be playing in Vieria position in other words will be Odegaard deputy.
As GAI mentioned, Duberry(18) is the natural RW in the academy and is also 2 years older than Nwaneri (16) that is a CM.
But in line with the article, we have more than enough cover for all positions now and the players on our books are numerous, whether they are all ready is down to the manager.
There’s no need then to go and bring someone from outside if that is the case. Start to introduce this young lad into the mainstream bit by speck for the good of the player.
Duberry is 18 which means he is more than old enough to at least be a 10 minutes sub in the league, Saka was 17 when Freddie start using him same as Martinelli but whether arteta will trust them enough to promote them is another discussion.
Off topic: Since arteta became the arsenal coach, as he her promoted any academy player to the first team, please someone should answer me.
Come on, guys!! The logical deputy for Saka is Jesus. It means he still gets enough game time to keep him happy, it removes him from the punishing role of playing up front, he has plenty of experience playing there, and it will allow Nketiah/Balogun some time while he is out wide. It’s the most common sense approach imo.
Didn’t he move here for a more prominent role than he had at City? I think playing cf was part of the reason he agreed to join us, but even if I’m wrong, I don’t think having him compete with saka would be very fair – I think jesus is a more talented footballer in many ways, and they’re quite evenly matched overall, but how can anyone compete with star boy at his own club? Jesus wouldn’t start any big games when Saka is fit – that’s not going to wash. We have Nelson to back Saka up, and if he fails, trossard can do the job there, or havertz or ESR. I’d trust any of them to cover that position.
I’m not suggesting Jesus compete with Saka for a spot on the RW. However, when Saka is being rested he would be ideal cover which would in turn give the others strikers a chance in the side.