The other day we were raving about how Myles Lewis-Skelly is forcing himself into this Arsenal team. Injuries at left-back have given the young Gunner a chance in Arteta’s lineup, and he took it with both hands. The 18-year-old had his first Premier League start against Crystal Palace and really impressed.
I’ve heard some say the Hale End star is too strong for his age. Some say he plays so maturely and composed, as if he has been defending for years.
In the summer, all the hype was on Ethan Nwaneri, and not much was said about Lewis-Skelly. So, Lewis-Skelly’s brilliance on Saturday has led some to ask, what about Nwaneri? Will he also eventually force himself into Mikel Arteta’s lineup?
Well, as much as some feel Bukayo Saka’s injury forces Mikel Arteta to go into the market and sign a winger, it also gives Gabriel Martinelli a chance in the team at right wing, and Nwaneri an opportunity there as well.
I’m sure most Gooners would really like Nwaneri to be given playtime at RW.
The young Gunner is creative, but the physicality and defensive demands that come with playing in midfield may have Arteta not yet ready to trust him there. But the right wing may be a less demanding role than RCM. With Martin Ødegaard and Jurrien Timber’s support, he could easily showcase his strengths, including his 1v1 ability. Plus, he’s a natural left-footer with all the qualities to play there. Given his aggressiveness and link-up play, he’ll offer what Saka does there.
“Ethan can play as a left or right attacking midfielder, right-wing… and could develop into a nine,” said coach Mikel Arteta not long ago.
"Ethan can play as a left or right attacking midfielder, right-wing … and could develop into a nine" 👀
Mikel Arteta believes Ethan Nwaneri has the potential to become a striker in the next few years 💥 pic.twitter.com/YOUyzSPNUd
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 17, 2024
Just yesterday, Arteta admitted that Nwaneri was one of his candidates to replace Saka. He said: “Gabby [Jesus] has played there. Ethan [Nwaneri] has played there. Leo [Trossard] can play there in relation to how that unit moves. Kai can play there, asking him different things. We will see, try different things and ask how they feel about it.”
As much as we wanted Nwaneri to force himself into this Arsenal team in a midfielder role, it wouldn’t hurt him being introduced as a winger to gain some confidence and experience before he transitions into a midfielder.
Myles Lewis-Skelly may have broken into this Arsenal team as a defender, but it is suggested he’s eventually going to transition into his traditional midfield role.
That said, like Myles Lewis-Skelly has done at left back when there’s no Calafiori, Nwaneri could seize hischance when there’s no Saka at right wing.
Sam P
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Sure, the gaffer needs to learn to trust the kid and unshackles the academy graduate, this kid should have gotten his properly wet from the Southampton game.
Trusted him against Palace and he did nothing
Play Jesus on the right and time when to join Havertz as a two
Arteta didn’t give him a chance when Odegaard was out. I doubt he will give him a chance at the right wing now Saka is absent.
I believe he will do a good job at right wing but we might not see that much because Arteta doesn’t really trust young players.
He trusted MLS over Tierney recently.
My thoughts are that throwing 2 academy players into the mix might be an overload of inexperience at an important time
@SJ
“but we might not see that much because Arteta doesn’t really trust young players.”
That is such a delusional thing to say! It’s just an out-right lie!
Arteta’s rebuild was centered around youth, with the likes of Saka and ESR. We almost won the title last year with the youngest squad in the division. We almost won the title this year with the third youngest squad.
Yes, because we need an inverted-RW to play against Ipswich
Our conventional-RWs won’t be able to cut inside as easily as Nwaneri will be
Nwaneri is a big tarlent but imo, I doubt if he is fully ready to step into Saka’s shoes. It could fine if he gets some minutes in that wing. But I would say Matinelli should deputise for Saka at least for time being he did well when he came in for him against CPalace.
Their is nothing that can hamper the progress of young players like undue pressure. And when they make a match losing mistake the fans will decend on them .
A conventional RW like Martinelli could replace Nwaneri in the second half to confuse the opposition
With the injury crisis and the fact that it’s still early in the season, and that there is little room for error now with the points-gap with Liverpool in the league, there is ample scope for both adequately utilising Nwaneri and strengthening the squad as well if anybody worthwhile becomes available.
Martinelli produced more in his brief switch to the RW against Palace than he has for some time on the left,so why would Arteta not give him a chance to be Saka’s replacement?As for all this hype regarding MLS, for goodness sake let’s get real, he is a promising young midfielder who is being played out of position .He does not have the natural talent of Nwaneri but plays with a lot of intelligence for one so young.With regard to Nwaneri, as a left footer, I wonder if it has occurred to our Manager to play him on the left wing?.
Exactly my point @Grandad, Matinelli did so well when he came in for Saka. Nwaneri can be given some minutes there when Arsenal is leading conveniently for him to gain more experience. Nwaneri is a big promising tarlent but undue pressure from fans can hamper his progress. Matinelli can play like Walcott in Saka’s wing using his pace very well.
Other than Tierney, we don’t have a natural left back do we Grandad? Calafiori’s a central defender, Zichenko & MLS are mids, Timber & Tomiyasu both right-sided (although Tomi can play right across the defense well enough), hence no overlapping or solid support for the left winger of the day.
It’s odd that Arteta didn’t mention Martinelli when he listed the names who could “play there.” Every time I’ve seen him on the right, he does well as a traditional winger, i.e., getting to the goal line and crossing accurately with his stronger foot.
He’s a good option as well, I expect him to start against a team like Ipswich at home.
From what i have noted in Artetas system, remove one key player and you’ll see the entire players fall apart.
We can spice up about nwaneri but the truth is that the kid isn’t exceptional Can’t even be a back Up to Bukayo Saka. Perhaps at AFC flyde.
I think Nwaneri has demonstrated that is more than capable from a technical standpoint and doesn’t seem overawed by the occasion, so I see no reason not to play him. Certainly he has changed games when he has come on and made an impact and you can’t ask much more than that from a young player.