‘He’s pushing him’ – Theo Walcott delivers stark warning to one Arsenal star over his place in Mikel Arteta’s team

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Arsenal were brought back down to Earth from their European highs as they dropped more Premier League points at home to Crystal Palace.

Second place in the Premier League is still not guaranteed for Mikel Arteta’s side as Manchester City and Newcastle begin to gather momentum in the end of season run in.

Champions League preparations were given a major setback as David Raya produced an uncharacteristic, poor performance in the Arsenal player ratings, whilst William Saliba made another mistake costing a goal.

Arsenal fans were furious with Raheem Sterling’s display and former Gunners winger Theo Walcott has also delivered a warning to another Arsenal star over his place in the team.

READ MORE: 99-touch Arsenal star shows why Andrea Berta’s transfer plans have changed after his performance v Crystal Palace

Theo Walcott delivers warning to Martin Odegaard amid Ethan Nwaneri rise

Speaking on Sky Sports post match coverage of Arsenal’s draw with Crystal Palace, Walcott has delivered a warning to Martin Odegaard over his place in the side following Ethan Nwaneri’s emergence.

Walcott stated: “He’s [Odegaard] got a player behind him in Nwaneri who will push him at some point, when you [Jamie Carragher] spoke earlier about a player who will only for so long sit on the bench,

“Ethan has probably sped up his process of challenging. And this is a point from the start of the season when Odegaard was injured, Ethan didn’t play as much at all, but I’m getting a sense now that he’s pushing him.”

Jamie Carragher called Odegaard’s season ‘average’ as he called for the Arsenal captain to be braver on the ball amid dropping into deeper positions throughout the campaign.

Ethan Nwaneri can push Martin Odegaard for the Arsenal number ten role

It is a great dilemma for Arteta to have two fantastic players vying for the same position and it is perhaps what the squad has been missing in certain areas this season.

However, there will come a point when Nwaneri’s development cannot be stunted by Odegaard, if he is better in the ten position, then Arteta will have to make a tough call on the Norwegian.

Nwaneri revealed his troubles he has faced in his first season in senior football but has already shown his goal threat and his ability to carry the ball through the lines – something Odegaard doesn’t possess.

However, the Norwegian’s intelligence with his passing range and how he orchestrates the Gunners press means that both players bring different qualities to the side and could even work in tandem in the future.