Ethan Nwaneri will be hoping for an opportunity to shine when Arsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Arsenal will play out their penultimate pre-season friendly up against the German champions Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium this week.
Granti Xhaka will be welcomed back to North London for this clash, and there is likely to be an excited atmosphere with football finally returning to the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta will field a strong starting XI. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have returned to Arsenal, along with David Raya, William Saliba, and Aaron Ramsdale, who were all afforded an extended break after reaching the latter stages of Euro 2024. All five will be in contention for some level of involvement in this match.
On top of that, Ethan Nwaneri will be hoping to get onto the pitch at some stage in the game. The Hale End academy wonderkid impressed during pre-season, and looks ready to take the next step forward in his career.
Ethan Nwaneri ready to shine for Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen
Nwaneri is expected to play a bigger role at Arsenal this season than he ever has before. As of now, the 17-year-old only has two Premier League appearances to his name, but impressed on the club’s pre-season tour of the US and is very highly thought of within the club.
Now is the time for the teenager to really force his way into the manager’s plans. If he is afforded the opportunity to play against Bayer Leverkusen, then he needs to show that he is ready to really compete at the highest level, against quality opposition.
Nwaneri is clearly trusted by his Arsenal teammates. Senior figures in the side don’t hesitate to give him the ball. If he plays in this game then he will have a fantastic opportunity to make a lasting impression in front of the Emirates Stadium faithful.
Nwaneri can make bid for Emile Smith Rowe’s No. 10 shirt
Now that Emile Smith Rowe has left Arsenal, his squad number has become vacant. Martin Odegaard has been tipped to take the No. 10 shirt, and would be deserving of the iconic number.
It may be too early for Nwaneri, who was only recently given the No. 53 squad number, to make a push for the No. 10, but Arteta has shown that he is willing to give such numbers to young players in the past, as he did when he handed the shirt to Smith Rowe in the first place.
Smith Rowe’s exit has potentially cleared a path towards regular first team action for Nwaneri, who now needs to do all he can to take advantage of the 24-year-old’s departure.
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