Pep Guardiola was unable to find room for both Cole Palmer and Phil Foden at Manchester City, a situation that could now transpire at Arsenal through Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman.
It’s a blessing and a curse to have two academy graduates capable of being starters in the same position.
Manchester City know it more than most, finding themselves in a position that saw them offload Palmer to Chelsea, a player who has since gone on to show that he’s a world-class talent.
It was a move that Palmer needed and one that City will live to regret, and a move that Mikel Arteta might find himself having to replicate in the near future.
Nwaneri was sent on loan to Marseille due to how Eberechi Eze’s arrival at Arsenal reduced his minutes, but while he’s been gone, Dowman has been on the rise.
It’s unclear what the future holds for Nwaneri at Arsenal, even more so with Dowman on the cusp of becoming a first-team regular.
Be honest: Was Ethan Nwaneri’s loan move to Marseille a mistake?
Arsenal have difficult questions to answer with Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri
The Telegraph just explored the uncertainties of Nwaneri’s future, and Dowman’s rise was one potential stumbling block.
Acknowledging that the pair are both left-footed attacking midfielders, the following question was asked and answered:
‘Is there space for both Dowman and Nwaneri to maximise their potential at Arsenal? Perhaps. But perhaps not.’
Who is most likely to make it at Arsenal?
Explain your answers 👀
The situation was described as ‘difficult questions’ that need to be answered by the club’s hierarchy in the summer.
There will be no jumping to conclusions, as Arsenal can have both of the players at the club, but whether that is enough for them both to thrive is uncertain.
Arsenal could find themselves mirroring Cole Palmer’s sale at Manchester City with Ethan Nwaneri
One unwanted solution would be to let one of the talents go, and given that Nwaneri was not considered to be needed at Arsenal this season, it has to be said that the 18-year-old would be the more likely to depart.
The discourse around Dowman is that he’s on course to become a world-beater, as we see with his mesmeric performances in the first team at just 16.
It only takes us back to the Palmer situation at City.
Fill in the blank: In five years, Ethan Nwaneri will be _________
How do you see the Arsenal youngster's future panning out…
Nobody at the Etihad wanted Palmer to leave, but having shown his talent under Guardiola, it became clear that a supporting role in the squad was not going to cut it.
He was sold to Chelsea at 21, and now he’s one of the most highly valued talents in the world.
City realised they couldn’t accommodate Palmer given their options at the time, which is identical to where Arsenal find themselves with their attacking midfield options.
It will be truly fascinating to see what Arsenal do with Nwaneri once he returns, as it has to be said that right now, there’s no clear avenue into the starting XI for the teen.
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