Aside from the LCM issue, there was one other issue with Arsenal last season: over-reliance on certain players, such as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. But could Ethan Nwaneri be the solution to reducing the duo’s reliance?
Many anticipate that Nwaneri, one of the Hale End talents, will have a strong season in 2024–25 and that his time has come to join the first squad. He was one of the first names on Arsenal’s pre-season tour list and went on to impress against Premier League opponents in the United States.
Arteta tried him out at LCM, and the 17-year-old performed admirably. He accepted a great deal of responsibility as a creator while also possessing the toughness and physicality required at LCM.
One could want him to stay at LCM, but with Mikel Merino on the way and Declan Rice’s ability to play there, LCM next season will be in excellent hands.
However, the Odegaard and Saka backup roles may be available, and I believe Nwaneri is equally as capable as Saka. He has played as an 8, a 10, a right winger, a left winger, a centre forward, and a second striker for Arsenal Youth.
Playing in several roles has given him the intelligence to grasp so many roles and helped him improve. As he integrates into the first team, Nwaneri could eagerly assume the backup roles at right wing and RCM.
Saka and Odegaard have played too many games over the last few seasons; they cannot continue to do so. So maybe Nwaneri could fill in for them. Though he’s played practically every position in attack while in the development stage, his primary function has been as a 10 or an RCM, implying that if given the Odegaard role, he would just continue to play the same role he has played.
Like Odegaard, he can drift through half spaces, creating or scoring goals, or drop deep to gather the ball and help the side take control of the game. If Arsenal doesn’t sign a new super-taleented right winger, Nwaneri could serve as an ideal backup for not only Odegaard but also Saka.
There has been much discussion on JA about Arteta not promoting our prospects for the last few days, so maybe this is the perfect opportunity?
Sam P
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The back up should have been ESR. Arteta has blown another move.
Emile Hattier
ESR couldn’t be a backup because he couldn’t stay injury free long enough.
Smith-Rowe can’t easily cut inside from the right wing as Odegaard and Saka always does, because his weaker foot isn’t as adept as De Bruyne’s
Nwaneri is naturally left-footed, so he could be a perfect successor to Odegaard or Saka
I would like to see him in the first team squad and get some minutes, but not at the expense of our push for the title. We need to rotate more this season and hopefully when the transfer window closes we have the depth of quality to do that. Arteta obviously felt last season he had no one good enough to sub out Saka. If Merino comes in I don’t see how Nwaneri can be anything more than a fringe player, maybe like Nelson and Nketiah have been.
To answer the question: Some likely would. imo, no. Who would be an adequate backup for Odegaard? I don’t know a good answer for that one. I believe the only way to adequately compensate for his absence would be to adjust your tactics and strategy as well as possible based on the players you have.
At present, I believe it is Viera anyway as it was last year before the injuries.
I would not be confident just yet with Nwaneri being a back up to long term injuries, but as a substitute, probably yes, if the game is right and his timed substitution is right.
He has to build confidence, but the Manager and more so his teammates have to be confident that he can step in for a run of games. But I think according to last season’s backups, he would be behind Trossard and Viera in the pecking order for Odeguaard and Saka, for now anyway. I think if he is included in the sub bench and gets minutes here and their would be a start and a run in some cup games until he grows in confidence, then reassess him for the second half of the season.
If Nwaneri has the potential to become highly productive in terms of regular high number of goals scored and assists provision per season for Arsenal next season in the left side of central midfield position.
Why not? Arteta can if he wants to, include him in his final 25 senior team for next season’s campaign.
And if he is include, he is home-grown and can be used as replacement for ESR. While if Merino is signed, or any other top class quality new midfielder. He should be a replacement for Elneny,
Nwaneri is ready for the step up. In fact, all the guys from Hale end who went for the tour are ready. The club must manage them carefully so as to ensure their development is a smooth run whether it’s through getting them into the first team or loaning them out to smaller clubs where they care play regularly before finding their way to the first team or being sold to raise funds.
it’s sad that Duberry and Walters left the club unceremoniously
Arsenal have not had a good transfer window, so far We still need a goalkeeper, a defensive midfielder a striker and possibly a right back too We need to get shot of Nelson and Nketiah as soon as possible if Arsenal still have these two in squad on September Arsenal will win nothing Most of all we need a striker not a winger we have Saka Martinelli Trossard and although i would sell we still have Jesus too Get a twenty goal a season striker and wr could challenge for top honours I dont blame Arteta i blame Edu who seems obsessed with Brazilian nobodies to follow in the likes of Marquinhos Have followes Arsenal for over fifty yearsbit, at monent not looking forward to the new season As for Nwaneri no hes mot ready and wont be for some time
Good question.
I would use him as much as possible up and until the January transfer window.
If it works out, brilliant.
If it doesn’t, then the club goes into the transfer market.
Of course, if we get someone before this window closes, he can be used as a substitute.
Use him a lot in FA Cup, League Cup and use him as substitute in some PL matches. Give him a chance to prove himself
👍
Seconded
I don’t believe he’s proved himself ready to be the second choice I think he’s a little further down than that I’d play him in the cup games though and maybe he can prove himself ready then to be the second choice We all want Nwaneri to succeed
👍ditto.