Arsenal take on Atalanta in the Champions League and Ethan Nwaneri is in contention to start.
The Gunners are one game into what is a massive week for them. They have started well with an impressive victory over Tottenham Hotspur, but there are two more huge fixtures coming up.
The one against Manchester City at the weekend is arguably the biggest game of the season, but Arsenal’s immediate focus is on their Champions League clash against Atalanta.
Arteta has a few decisions to make, and one of them is whether Nwaneri should start. Jorginho’s assessment of Atalanta makes us think he shouldn’t.
Arsenal star Jorginho delivers verdict on Atalanta
Atalanta have had a phenomenal rise in the Serie A since Gian Piero Gasperini took charge of the club in 2016.
The Italian is one of the best managers in the Serie A, and he led his side to the Europa League title in the 2023/24 season.
Atalanta beat big clubs like Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen on their way to the title last term, so Arsenal should be wary of the threat they possess.
Jorginho, who knows Italian football very well, was asked about Atalanta ahead of the game on Thursday, and he made it clear that it won’t be an easy night.
He claimed that Atalanta are a ‘very physical’ side and that the atmosphere at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia will be ‘hot’.
He told NBC Sports: “For sure it’s going to be a tough and difficult game because they are a very physical team.
“It’s not going to be easy for sure. Hot atmosphere in Italy. We need to be ready for another battle.”
READ MORE: Arsenal predicted lineup, team and injury news as Arteta makes Ethan Nwaneri decision vs Atalanta
Ethan Nwaneri should not start vs Atalanta
Nwaneri is one of the brightest talents in world football.
The teenager was fantastic in Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States, and he more than held his own at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday too.
However, Nwaneri is still only 17 years old, and we think throwing him into a crazy Champions League away fixture in Italy in what will be a hostile atmosphere is a terrible idea.
Jorginho knows Italian football better than almost everyone else at the club. We think Arteta should listen to his comments about Atalanta and decide against picking Nwaneri from the start on Thursday.
Arsenal have plenty of easier fixtures coming up after the Manchester City clash. It makes more sense to give Nwaneri opportunities in those games.
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