Ethan Nwaneri has taken the spotlight once again for Arsenal after the youngster put in another impressive performance against Leicester City in the Premier League.
The Gunners were rather flat at the King Power Stadium, struggling to unlock the hosts as they looked to frustrate the visitors.
Very few of the Arsenal players looked like creating much, but Ethan Nwaneri was the clear standout throughout the match.
The 17-year-old was lively with his efforts from the right flank, cutting in to have a few close efforts at goal, while a few deliveries into the box came close.
He did finally land an assist though, creating for Mikel Merino with a delicate cross into the area from his side.
The youngster helped drag his side to three points, though debate rages on over Ethan Nwaneri’s position once Bukayo Saka returns from injury.
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Gary Lineker and Micah Richards back Ethan Nwaneri to play as a striker
While Nwaneri has shone at right-wing, some of those opportunities have come due to Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury in recent weeks.
The England international is closing in on a return over the next month or so, which will cause some dilemmas over where the Hale End academy star will get his opportunities in the future.
Discussing how the team will look after Saka’s return, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards picked one role in particular on the Rest is Football podcast.
Richards started off by saying: “He’s [Nwaneri] just dazzling, isn’t he? Scintillating. It’s just the way he moves, his confidence, his left foot.
“I mean, you know we’ve eulogised about Saka many times, but he’s really come to the fore at the right time.
“What a player, 17 years of age, his technique, he was the best player on the pitch by far. All it was missing was a goal really.”
When asked about Nwaneri’s position once Saka is back, Richards said: “I put him up front. I put him up front.”
Lineker added: “I think he can play anywhere up top.”
To which Richards responded: “Correct, put him because of how Arsenal play, they like players who can press, they like players who can link.
“Havertz has done that role, we all think Havertz is better as a ten. I think he’s got that and they can switch his positions, him and Saka, the way they go in and out.
“He’s a real talent. He’s a real, real talent.”
It remains to be seen just how well an experiment with Nwaneri as the centre forward could work, not least for one small issue.
Arsenal need a striker with a presence
Arsenal look at their very best when they have a striker who is able to impact the game with their presence in the box.
Kai Havertz has been at his best when he can go up against defenders or finds his moments to win headers in the space.
The latest example of a similar build working in the Arsenal team is Mikel Merino, who managed to latch onto a header in the box to open the scoring.
When the Gunners find it tough to break a team open, resorting to crosses is often the way forward and unless it’s a peach of a delivery, then it requires someone tall and powerful to win those headers.
For Nwaneri, it’s an area with question marks over it, with the star capable of going inside and outside on the wing, but it’s unclear how his position would work as a centre-forward.
It remains to be seen though and could end up being a switch that benefits him and the club in the long-term.
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