Martin Odegaard faces more competition for his place in the Arsenal team than ever this season.
The Norwegian struggled last term, finding it difficult to rediscover his best form after returning from a serious ankle injury.
The playmaker’s downturn in form coincided with a poor run of results for the Gunners, who have clearly been reliant on Odegaard and the creativity he brings.
Andrea Berta sought to rectify this issue by strengthening in the market, signing a player who should reduce their dependence on their captain.
Ethan Nwaneri shines for the England under-21s
Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace for £67.5 million in the summer.
Eze should be comfortable filling in for Odegaard and relieving the creative burden on the 26-year-old, although the Gunners still have an internal solution to this issue.
Ethan Nwaneri signed a new contract on the basis that he will be the skipper’s understudy, committing his long-term future to his boyhood club.
While Nwaneri plays the role differently to Odegaard, he is capable of offering the Gunners ingenuity and final third threat from midfield.
The 18-year-old impressed for the England under-21s on Monday against Kazakhstan.
The Three Lions took on the European minnows in Aktobe in a qualifier for the 2027 under-21 Euros, and Nwaneri was deployed as the number ten for Lee Carsley’s team, alongside the likes of Jamie Gittens and Tyler Dibling.
Opening the scoring for England after 18 minutes with a powerful finish, the Arsenal youngster ran the show on the night.
Awarded Player of the Match, it was another positive outing for Nwaneri at the under-21 level, after he contributed to Carsley’s side’s Euros triumph over the summer.
Martin Odegaard should be worried about Ethan Nwaneri’s performances
Nwaneri has been described as ‘special’, and his performances recently suggest he may well be.
While some of the flashy bits of skill aren’t as prominent in his game as they were at times last season, he’s beginning to develop into a more well-rounded midfielder.
Contributing more in the build-up, he’s demonstrating his ability to be more of a metronome in possession and doing his defensive work more consistently.
Odegaard should be genuinely concerned watching the youngster’s progress, particularly with Eze now also in the equation.
The Norway international has previously been a nailed-on starter under Mikel Arteta, but the Spaniard now has different options at his disposal.
If Odegaard doesn’t step up his game, then he risks losing his place as a shoo-in.
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