Like most fanbases, a divide exists among us. Some fans believe the definition of a supporter is to be positive about everything, and that to question the club makes you negative.
Yet we also live in a society where people want to share their view with the world without being challenged.
Some base their opinion on wanting it to be true, and a generation has been brought up saying what they want, but not wanting to hear rebuttal.
That’s why we live in a world where information can be spread around the Universe within seconds – no matter if it’s factual or has any credibility.
Again though, what you believe isn’t necessarily true.
Over the years I read that Maitland Niles was better than Kante, Eddie Nketiah was picked ahead of Ronaldo and Mbappe because of their attitudes, Smith Rowe was going to be trusted
In the title race, etc.
These Gooners are desperate for our academy to be that good, so believe their own narrative and suppress anyone who might point out otherwise.
In reality, look at where these players now play, if they play at all.
This preseason alone I was told that Kai Havertz would score more then Haaland (already 5 away), Arsenal would win their opening 5 fixtures or even could win all 38 league games (winning sequence stopped at 2), we can repeat the Invincibles, and that Arteta has changed the landscape at the Emirates with the Gunners now one of the most competitive in Europe (we haven’t won the title in 21 years).
I also have read and listened to a lot of hype surrounding the subject of this article …. Ethan Nwaneri.
In the summer it was predicted he would be seriously involved in our first team.
I proposed a bet he doesn’t play more than 20 times in the Prem this campaign.
You may recall the teenager as the youngest player in our history 2 years ago.
When he came on at 15yo against Brentford, I took it for what it was, our manager aware of the statistic and being 3-0 up with minutes left, why not make the sub?
Some of my peers argued that I didn’t know for sureif this was sentimental…….he’s featured in one Prem game since in 2 years.
He’s never featured in Europe, the FA Cup or Carabao for a second.
Now don’t get me wrong, some will have watched his development in the underage teams or even travelled on our USA tour to see him in a few friendlies.
The majority though either were really impressed by the approx. 20 minutes they have seen from him in 2 years, or more likely have heard about his reputation from our academy and have simply made up that he’s the next breakout star in English Football.
It’s got to the point where an injury to Odegaard has some assuming the midfielder’s first ever start should be the North London Derby!
At the Tottenham Stadium!
How unfair would that be on a 17-year-old?
The only youngster I saw given that much trust was Cesc Fabregas at 17.
The difference being that Mr. Wenger was so convinced by his talent, he started the Spaniard on the opening weekend of the campaign and the player never looked back. The Como head coach has stressed he was lucky to be surrounded by the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, Vieira, Gilberto, etc to guide him.
That hasn’t happened to Nwaneri. 2-0 up against Wolves and Villa, he stayed on the bench.
I listened to AFTV, a platform which influences fans.
Lee Judges was worrying that how would a kid, only used for 30 mins of football in two years, suddenly cope with starting this Sunday, in Atalanta and at the Etihad.
In reality I would be amazed if that happens. I would be surprised if he started this weekend. Simply because in someone’s imagination he might be great?
Zero evidence to support that as yet.
Mr. Judges then says if after that week a 17-year-old hasn’t started, Arteta and Edu need to be held accountable.
So, what’s worse about this?
A knowledgeable fan has decided the answer to our injury issues is a young man, yet to start for the senior team, because he wants him to be fantastic.
Then if that’s not the case, he feels he’s entitled to know why a player with 20 minutes of senior action in 2 years isn’t being picked ahead of Jorginho, Havertz, Trossard, Saka, etc.
We might kick off 5 points behind Man City. It would be pretty irresponsible to put faith in someone whose only body of work is a portion of Gooners think he is?
I remember the same buzz about Jack Wilshere. I was in attendance for his debut and first senior goal. The difference though, having heard the noise, I waited for the League Cup tie to see what all the fuss was about. That is why the actual biggest match this month for Nwaneri is in fact September 25th. That’s the night Bolton rock up in North London
Don’t mistake me for having doubts. All the reports that come back say Nwaneri is special and he could already be good enough to impact the NLD. Yet I don’t know because I have nothing to base that on.
Hence why you use the Carabao Cups to learn how he handles the occasion.
You don’t just throw him into the fire pit of the Lane because you want him to be great.
Based on an imagination, a fantasy, a dream.
Again, to anyone who’s watched him consistently for our Under 21’s, I apologise.
I maintain the majority though of you are saying he should start this week have never watched him start a competitive match.
It’s unfair on us fans, his teammates and the man himself.
What you want and believe doesn’t make it true.
Dan
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Well said Dan. Nothing to add 👍
Yes, the hypes about our youngsters are ridiculous. None of them is as skilled as Lamine Yamal
Correct
But Lamine Yamal is not that skilled
The Manager liked him and used him throughout the season
Pure Talent-wise Nwaneri is more skilled than Lamine but Lamine has huge experience ahead of him & with that will continue improving ahead of Nwaneri
Agree.
I’ve never seen Nwaneri dribbling past defenders easily in U-21 matches, whereas Yamal has been doing it constantly in La Liga and international matches
What are you basing that on ?
@Gai, I make bold to say Nwaneri is as skilled as LYamal but are rarely given opportunity for expression.That was what Arsen Wenger did better than any Arsenal coach. He gave CFabrigas, TWallcot VParsey etc and many youths opportunities. Imagine BSaka wasn’t given a chance. Saka became better because he played consistently. Yamal became known because of Euros. The English league don’t know how to put their players in limelight.
@Sylva , I’ve never seen Nwaneri dribbling past defenders easily in U-21 matches, whereas Yamal has been doing it constantly in La Liga and international matches
@,Gai How good a player is not necessary determined by much dribbles. Odegard and Ozil don’t offer much dribbling. Mind you, Yamal plays regularly for Bacca, playing for the senior team improves a player potentials. I watched Nwaneri in preason and he was fantastic. Mikel said today in his interview that he is ready to give Nwaneri and somes Boys chances on Sunday. We wait and see.
Inverted wingers like Yamal, Saka, Messi and Ronaldo are game-changers and the most dangerous attackers in the field, whereas CAMs like Ozil need highly-skilled attackers like Yamal to make assists
Surprisingly, the Chido kid got so much hyped when he decided to join Man United. It was like we lost the next Haaland listening to people talk about the whole issue.
Isn’t it better we appreciate and “hype” the players who play for us than the ones that decided otherwise? Though I’m not saying we should hype our players, but it’s certainly better than hyping players that left us.
I see why people are overhyping Nwaneri. If he was just another academy kid, he wouldn’t have got his debut at 15 years old. And he has shown the glimpses of his qualities in the preseason. He just didn’t look like an academy kid getting some minutes.
But he will not start in the NLD but am sure we’ll see him in the second half. It
The arrogance is blinding.
I have long said there is an arrogance among our fanbase
Rarely do you find a club who have done so little could talked up
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough” was an old expression, but in fairness to young Nwaneri he’s not there yet – although he may get an opportunity at some time over this season if/when the moment is thought to be right.
As has already been said, there’s no comparison with Yamal at Barcelona. At just 17 now I think, he really is the definition of a “wonderkid” and has proved it several times already, even at his tender age. Someone like him appears very rarely though.
Did you just say Nwaneri will play 20X
Let’s bet
Nwaneri will not feature up to 10X in the premier league
U guys don’t know your Manager yet ?
What has he shown to make u think he trusts easily ?
He trusts very hardly
If we were still under Wenger – Nwaneri would be solidly a part of the active first team by end of season (either a starter or a sure substitute)
But this season is achievement is making it steadily to the bench…THAT’S ALL
He’ll warm the bench throughout this season and come in as a substitute when we’re leading 4, 5, 6 – 0 and that only happens about 6X per season for us
Honestly Dan, there’s a saying where I come from that in every market there’s a mad man, to mean that in every group of people,there will always be a person or two whose views are totally ridiculous or unrealistic.
From where I sit, and from the views of Arsenal fans I’ve heard, there’s not much hype around Ethan. Most reasonable fans agree that he still has a long way to go.
And that goes for most of the examples you give. 99% of Arsenal fans will have a good laugh if you said Havertz would outscore Haaland. And I’m yet to hear anyone talk about going invincible. And most Arsenal fans actually were of the opinion that it would be a tall order to win all of our first five games.
About us being more competitive,that’s true if you look at individual games. We are not as easy to beat as it was before. We compete in every single game we play. There are no more 8-2 or 6-0 kind of losses. Are we one of the most competitive teams in Europe? Yes . Most defensive and offensive metrics place is in the top ten in Europe. Titles are about success. Are we one of the most successful in Europe? Not yet.
My point is you’re forming an opinion and writing an article based on views held by a very small minority of Arsenal fans. There will always be such people in any given group. My rebuttal would be different if this was an opinion held by the overwhelming majority of fans.
That said, I agree that it’s too early to put too much expectation on young Ethan. It’s not good for his development. But we should also allow ourselves to imagine that he could be ready to step up. Though rare,there are players who have made the step up at that age like Rooney,Fabregas, Yamal, Bellingham and lots of others in the Barcelona set up. I’m not expecting it but I’ll be pleasantly surprised and cheer the young lad on if it happens.
Mate In these very comments we have been told Ymal is more skilled lol
Ymal …who just won the Euros Vs a player who’s played 20 mins of senior football
well said Onyango, sometimes i do think Dan is so concetrated into the minority that he completely ignores the bigger /majority picture. I’ll say that , it does generate to debates and i guess thats the point!!. You have given a good reply which he completely ignored and diverted to a different point . As i realise at no point in your reply did you mention Nwaneri being better than Yamal!
When did I say he did
I said in these comments it was said he was more skilful
But again by targeting me for saying Yamal is clearly proven himself more and not questioning the person who said Nwarie was more skilful that’s an agenda
Your basically saying because Nwari plays for Arsenal I have to say right this moment he’s better then Ymal
Rooney, Fabregas, Yamal, Bellingham…
…Bukayo Saka, Martinelli, Smith-Rowe
Thank you
Not getting it
You responded to a comment of mine on this topic a while ago, Dan, and I think you took what I’d said the wrong way – there have been some signs that nwaneri is a cesc-type of talent, such as arteta giving him his league debut so early (which, let’s be real, is the reason for so much hype), and that he hasn’t looked out of place at any time he has featured for the first team. I’m not saying I know he’s one of those few players like cesc, who’s able to start or feature in big games at 17, I’m just saying that if he is, I hope he starts getting those chances. Only arteta and his staff would really know that – to be fair, I’ve not heard them saying anything about him being ready now, so the likelihood is he’s not there yet.
He hasnt looked out of place in the first team ?
He can on in stoppage time one game and the last 15 mins we were 6-0 up
I’m not saying he can’t be great but I need to see more of him hence the Carabo Cup would be the start
Szczesny at 19 had his debut against a very strong Man Utd i believe if Nwaneri he can play against Spurs. With the support of the senior players there is absolutely nothing to be worried about.
I don’t think he will play
It’s something fans have just told themselves
Nwaneri will definitely play, whether people like it or not. At least in the second half. Though I have a sneaky feeling he mighy start. It’s not about what we fans want to see or not, if he’s capable and if he is a special one, he will play. It’s like we see our own players with a much critical lens than we view other players. If Nwaneri plays and does a good job in such a vital match, then we will have a good Odegaard backup for the rest of the season. Spurs will try to bully him though to hurt his confidence and not let him come into his own, if he starts, so second half is a good timing for me personally.
Why will he definitely play ?
Because he is an Arsenal player. He is good enough to come in the second half. The progression to first team is different for different youth prospects. There isn’t a linear rule to follow, all depends on how a player is responding to demands, and some youth are just better to just go with it. There were many youth prospects when Ethan made his debut. If your argument is that the game was done and dusted so it was just a sub, why just him though? There must be something us fans maybe don’t know that the coaches know? Needs makes for exceptions, and Nwaneri is the only player we have that have similarities and skills to deputize for Odegaard. So, yeah, I think he will definitely play in the second half, if not start the game.
Can you name a competitive game you watched to say he has similar skills to Odegarrd?
Or is it because he simply plays for Arsenal
It’s a simple reductionism. You rectify each and every player who is dissimilar to Odegaard, and what you get is the answer.
And similarities don’t mean a like to like match, it’s about playing the role, albeit in a different way. Nwaneri, the few games that I have seen him play with the first team, he can provide instead of Odegaard, in a slightly different manner.
And I also watch a lot of U21 and U19 matches as well, and I have seen him play quite a lot. He has the tools. But personally, it will be too soon for talking about him starting in the league, let alone the NLD. But I am not ruling out the second half chances.
The first team in a competitive match ?
He’s played 20 mins
Do you not see why it’s crazy that he’s played 20 mins of senior football and you say he has the skills to replace Odegarrd
Ethan is the only player on our team who has consistently played as an attacking midfielder on the right side throughout his youth career. Which other midfielder on our team has experience in that position?
None. No need to think about competitive experience here, we are talking about player profiles.
And it’s not about replacing Odegaard, it’s about filling in. I think you’re taking it too far with generalizations here. I haven’t said anywhere about “replacing” Odegaard. Odegaard isn’t available so filling in is all any other player can do, and Ethan matches the profile better than other players is all I am saying. Ethan is a Right sided AM, which Odegaard is. And he can fill in in Odegaard’s absence, in a different manner.
And btw, watch him come in the second half today. Jorgi won’t be able to play all 90 mins, and we don’t have Calafiori in the bench today. So, we might see Myles and Ethan both feature today. Or even Salah in the second half.
the reason i think Nwaneri might start vs Spurs is because we are missing Rice and Odegaard and so someone has to replace them, Nwaneri has been added to the first team squad as understudy/back-up for Odegaard, so if Odegaard does not play it is natural for Nwaneri’s name to be in frame to replace him
or look at it the other way, it would be strange, demotivating and rather pointless having Nwaneri in the first team squad if he wasn’t in consideration to replace an injured Odegaard
that is not about hype, Arteta, Wenger or Yamal, it is simply Arsenal have a vacancy in the position Nwaneri plays
so is this more about the opponent being Spurs, Arsenal playing away from home, and it being PL rather than cup
e.g. would there be any comment or controversy if Nwaneri came in for an injured Odegaard at home to Southampton? no, probably not
so if it about Spurs away then i can see it is a bigger test, but quite frankly Spurs really aren’t that good, they play an open brand of football and are not an overly physical team, so in many ways a good match to Nwaneri
and we always hear about picking inform players, Nwaneri scored goals in two games for England over the international break
for me there is plenty pointing toward Nwaneri starting
if Nwaneri doesn’t start in place of Odegaard then who does?
Arteta is very unlikely to change his system to a double pivot, and ageing legs Partey and Jorginho together will be targeted by high octane Ange style
Trossard has not played in that position for Arsenal or successfully elsewhere
Havertz will likely play the right #8 replacing Rice otherwise may well have come in for Odegaard
but with both Rice and Odegaard absent Nwaneri feels the logical choice
So despite being more skilled then Lemal and the skills to replace Odegarrd….he does not start lol
Think Lemal would ? Lol
First sentence = zzzz. Stopped there.