Arsenal fans were already debating how best to beat Sp*rs without the suspended Declan Rice when an injury to Martin Odegaard complicated matters further.
While Mikel Arteta wouldn’t be drawn on the seriousness of his captain’s ankle issue, it’s expected the Norway international will be sidelined for several weeks leaving the manager with a serious headache.
Following the departure of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham and the decision to loan Fabio Vieira back to Porto, the Gunners are pretty light when it comes to creative options behind the strikers.
Has the door opened for 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri? The England youth international already has two senior appearances to his name, but is the manager ready to throw the youngster in the deep end ahead of a trio of huge away games? That was the question posed to Arteta in Friday’s pre-Sp*rs press conference.
He replied: “We have to adapt to that [injuries], through the season, we’re going to have these situations, it happened very early, since the second [he means third] game because when you look at the bench we had against Brighton, it was very different to one that we probably expected.
“It is the situation that we have. We have to face it, use opportunities, the young kids [notably Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri and Heaven] have given us a lot of hope and the right reasons to count on them and if we need to, we will do it for sure.”
Having spent the summer cutting the fat off the squad, that “need” is definitely more apparent compared to previous seasons.
Asked if he’s happy with the depth of his squad, Arteta said: “It can be bigger, yes, but we have certain limitations that we know about. We have to do certain things, certain transactions and certain players have been with us for a long time and they needed a new challenge in their career.
“We have signed a few players, it’s been a bit different to the previous years, but I’m really happy with the quality of the squad. There are certain things that we cannot control and what happened in the last two weeks is extremely unlucky. We have to face it, but hopefully during the season it will be very different.”
One player who is likely to shoulder even more responsibility in the coming weeks is Kai Havertz. The former Chelsea player has become integral at the Emirates since the turn of the year having made a slow start to life as a Gunner.
“He’s been great,” said Arteta. “Obviously it was a journey until that point that we navigated together, but nobody doubted the quality that he can bring.
“The success came because of his character, his personality and how he approaches every game, every situation, facing it and going for it. It’s a joy to have him.”
I actually think we have to. I really don’t want to see us messing around everyone’s position when we have Ethan sitting on the bench.
Look, it’s not ideal. It’d be better to slowly introduce him. But he’s not on loan. He’s not in the u23’s. And that’s because he’s now a first team footballer.
Nwaneri’s natural position, as far as I can tell, is number 10. So yeah. He needs to play.
I’m not sure about that. If we are leading by a 2 goal advantage, I’ll bring him on in the dying minutes of the 2nd half. Atalanta is the perfect game to start him I reckon. You need some level of experience and emotional intelligence to deal with the NLD.
I’m not saying he goes straight into the derby, just for the record. But he needs to play minutes now.
And people are forgetting, he could be an absolute game changer. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him. But Cesc and Cole and Anelka and Saka… came in and they never left.
There is a chance that he’s that good.
So you’re saying he shouldn’t go straight into the team, but he needs to play now. Nice of you not wanting to put too much pressure on him, I’ve been worried about him reading Johnny 4 skins opinions on arseblog and cracking under the pressure of living up to your expectations.
The joke’s on you Alan. Because I’m circumcised.
Definitely wouldn’t start him away in Italy in the CL for his first start either, christ. Talk about hostile atmosphere. His first start will be at Bolton. If he does well there he might get a chance vs lower PL or CL sides.
I thought he was more of a #8, no? I think there is only one player that would require a shift to play #10, and in my view that should absolutely be Zinchenko, who is statistically, quite clearly the second most creative player in the squad, and one with the most similar skill set to Odegaard. He’s an incredibly experienced and versatile player and spends a lot of time in forward positions in and around the box and also (very clearly) helping to build position (like Marty does). He’s also a tactic genius, and a great position and tactical defender… Read more »
I agree with you about Zinchenko actually. His technical and creative qualities make him look like a damn good deputy to Ode, but as has been said on Arseblog a number of times, if he was ever going to play in midfield then it probably already would have happened. It seems a waste to me, but I know a tiny fraction about football of what Arteta does I guess.
I saw this on the main blog, but I’m not sure I agree. Ødegaard has basically not been injured since his loan spell (one small, two-week hip injury), and Zinny was always a critical piece to our setup and style as LB until halfway through last season, when he started to lose his place there. He is certainty not Marty Ø, but he’s about as close a clone to him as we have in this squad in terms of style of play and tactical knowledge and workrate.
there is no way zinny is as good at pressing as ØØØ
Yes, Zinchenko has a temperament problem when compared to Odegaard. He lacks the same level of consistent effort, second effort, focus and positional discipline. And he’s not physically robust or a duel winner. That’s why he’s fallen out of favor and been supplanted by Timber and Calafiori, and even Kiwior in the CL last year.
Did I say that? No one is. Marty literally the best pressing footballer in the world. We’re talking a hit no matter what here, what I’m saying is zinny is the best we have to replace that and stylistically he’s not that dissimilar…
How is Zinchenko more a 10 than an 8 exactly? He’s a Modric style ball mover, not particularly creative with his passing just has excellent technical skill to ping an accurate pass to the next open player with one touch. His finishing skills are almost non existent, so why exactly would you want to play him that far forward? To me he’s a natural 8, with defensive skills also befitting of an 8, and could slot more or less into Ode’s usual role other than the fact he has literally never played in that part of the pitch. But given… Read more »
I was referring to Nwaneri being more an 8 than a 10.
“I think there is only one player that would require a shift to play #10, and in my view that should absolutely be Zinchenko” then I don’t understand what this means.
Agreed, I say slot him in and keep as much as possible around him the same. I think he’d be absolutely fine. Won’t be as influential as MO but who knows. He’s not overawed in games at all and I think he has the composure to impact the game.
There is no 10 in our system. All the creativity happens on the flanks. Odegaard is a roving connector first, chance creator second. He roams the pitch looking to grease connections that get his team up the pitch and through tight spots. Ethan can do some of that but there’s a great fallacy in thinking that he has to play because of stylistic similarities to Odegaard. He should play only if MA thinks he’s the best possible option both individually and for team balance and continuity, not because his profile is the most similar to Odegaard. The distinction may seem… Read more »
Roving connector.
Boy, I like that.
Sounds like a wild west networking event.
Let the youngsters off the leash I’ve got a good feel about the weekend
Let’s support the young guns. In the past, we have used U20s like Jack, Cesc, Coquelin, Frimpong, Denilson, and a few others. Ethan would not be at the bottom of the list. COYG!
Frimpong!!
Well done. The kids are crying now.
And how exactly did we do in those times…
“We are going to field youngsters only if we have no other choice”
If Calafiore is fit to play he could take the left back role, and move Timber alongside Partey, and have Zinchencor and Kwior as back ups.
Sterling was playing well in 10 position for Chelski last season. If Jeaus is unavailable and Havertz is up top I suspect Sterling will be the one to go in to the midfield. This is because Sterling knows how to press and can thread a pass. There’s a chance Havertz , Sterling and Jesus all start in the derby which will be interesting to watch.
No chance Sterling plays in midfield. Trossard up top and Havertz in midfield is what will happen.
Good shout.
Play him. Anyone remember saka taking the chance and never looking back. I do.
yes not the same, but close enough