There isn’t a lot I can defend Mikel Arteta on regarding his choices against Everton on Saturday but there is one!
I know the very same Gooners who wanted Ethan Nwaneri to start at the Lane, at the Etihad and at the San Siro who now feel the young Arsenal midfielder shouldn’t have been brought on at the weekend. Some feel that was throwing the 17-year-old in at the deep end and that any club with ambitions to be Champions shouldn’t be relying on a teenager.
Which one is it exactly?
Do we have a future superstar? Or is a League fixture against Everton too big a stage?
Because it can’t be both?
This is why I warned a section of our fanbase were overreacting when, after only a few subs appearances, he only needed to string a couple of passes together for many to insist he should be starting.
Those same people have now lost faith the moment he made little impact against the Toffees.
As the likes of myself tried to argue, a cameo appearance when a game is already won isn’t a worthy measurement on how you’re developing. It’s how you handle adversity that is the true reflection.
Anyone who graduates to our first team must have obvious qualities. That’s never doubted.
Many youth prospects have technique and flair but what about your mentality? Do you demand the ball?
Do you play the risky pass without fearing failure?
Do you attempt to take on your man or play an ambitious shot?
No one off the bench gave us that against Sean Dyche’s men.
The question going around various platforms is should we be judging the youngster?
Again, you can’t have it both ways.
Supporters were claiming we had a talent more skillful than Lamine Yamal. Comparisons made to Cesc Fabregas at the same age.
That could very well be the case. Yet my argument Is; how many individuals had properly seen the kid play underage football?
Even if you follow the reserves, you’re basing your opinion on a player whose only competitive start in senior football has been two League Cup ties with lower league opponents.
The majority of spectators were impressed with what they saw in preseason, so like a lot of things, because they wanted something to be true they insisted that was the reality.
The truth is it’s counterproductive to put so much hype on someone when he’s dealing with enough pressure at his age.
We had this with Eddie Nketiah. For years some thought the definition of being a supporter was to never criticize the badge, so failed to accept he was one of the worst strikers in our history (I was told he was a better option than the Mbappe).
Now look where he plays, if he plays, and his goal scoring record.
With the need to win a trophy, I wouldn’t blame our manager for fielding a strong 11 on Wednesday. Yet it would also be a great experiment to witness how Nwaneri deals with starting a game with jeopardy at stake against a team from the same division.
If you demanded Nwaneri start games, you can’t criticize his boss for trusting him when we need a goal.
He can’t only play when things are going well for the team.
Midweek will be a great test of his character.
Does he go through the motions or grab the opportunity with both hands?
Dan
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Maybe the gaffer is waiting on a telephone call from God before he starts the kid.
Too much gentle introduction nonsense
Yet he did nothing the other day to earn that start
You are judging him on 30 minutes. When it was also tactics that caused the whole team to under perform?
The point is what has he done for us to be demanding he starts ?
Shown massive amounts of promise. But I don’t think that is what the article is getting at. Its more balanced than that.
That’s my point mate
Based on what
What first team senior starts outside of the league Cup can you say he’s shown promise
Or have we just told ourselves that , want to believe it and therefore have told ourselves it’s true
No, he has made waves for people outside Arsenal and professionals have noticed also.
Waves where ?
Gunsmoke,
He could always ask Jesus. 😂🤣😉👍
It’s irrational to write a kid off because he can’t kick start a failing game plan from the 65th minute especially when everyone else around him is not providing any support. Let the kid start in order to prove himself before making such a lame justification for a manager without a Plan B.
Hey Joe,
I don’t think anyone is writing him off at all, just calling for patience
That’s the hypocrisy some always have here. They’ll criticise arteta for doing one thing and come around criticise him for doing the reverse. No consistency no logic.
Also do that for players and even other fans😅
Fascinating isn’t it. The quite astounding negativity of some of our fans has resulted in articles being penned by those who don’t quite understand the flak Arteta gets at times.
Caribou cup is the competition he can get a little more experience. Its all stepping stones.
We don’t need passengers in the team.
If he isn’t good enough to play and to play right now – he shouldn’t be there.
Sell or loan.
I would take the slow integration talks serious were other midfielders on fire attacking at the moment but that is not close to being the case.
If we needed passengers in sight of progression I would then suggest we promote Michal Rosiak from our academy as I think he is one of the very best free-kick takers in the whole of reality. Add him to our set-piece terrorism and give opponents and haters some more to cry about.
Maybe cash out soon and make some handsome million quid.
In any ways Nwaneri’s little was mightier than some others impact.
After watching his recent form in cameos especially Fulham, Everton, I am scratching my head, is this another Eddie Nketiah situation, impressive especially against championship sides, but bang everage or underwhelming when given a real test. I think the kid has mastered Carabao and Preseason games very well to get everyone talking, but in reality, he might just be another one from Academy, talk of AMN, Nelson, Eddie, Iwobi, Patino, etc
Are people really expecting a 17 year old to be tearing up the toughest league in the world ? He will have good games and poor games, it’s all part of learning. Patience is needed.
Regarding Nketiah being the worst striker in the clubs history, wow, Dan must be well over 100 years old to come up with that.
Never mind that. Dan is just being…….. …. Dan
Herr Drier,
He clearly never saw Lee Chapman play for the Arsenal. 😂🤣😉👍
Derek, or John Hawley or Ray Hankin 😂