Arsenal are in desperate need of some attacking inspiration after their defeat to Newcastle United.
It’s back to the drawing board for Mikel Arteta, whose squad is now three games without a win in the Premier League.
The Gunners have a win percentage of just 50% in the league after 10 games played, seeing Arsenal sit seven points below the top spot.
Losing to Newcastle was not in Arteta’s redemption plan, with the manager instead having to answer questions regarding ongoing issues his squad are having.
Mikel Arteta had to start Ethan Nwaneri against Newcastle United
Arsenal’s creative woes would not have come as a surprise to many, as the Gunners have struggled to maintain their attacking spark without Martin Odegaard.
Arteta has very limited options in the number 10 role, making the decision to part ways with Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe all the more puzzling.
While focus is on what Arsenal are missing, more attention needs to be paid to what Arteta has at his disposal, Ethan Nwaneri.
Nwaneri has been used sporadically by Arteta this term however, given how the teenager has conducted himself in his appearances, the manager had to take a chance on starting the creator against Newcastle.
The 17-year-old is a playmaker by nature and an expert in the number 10 role, something that Arsenal have been missing in recent weeks.
Against Newcastle, the Gunners struggled to create through the central channel, with the fixture quickly becoming a contest that was crying out for a profile like Nwaneri’s.
The manager did call on the youngster in the second half but, the damage was already done, Arsenal were a goal down and Newcastle had sussed the game plan out.
Arteta could have saved himself a lot of issues by installing a fresh approach in central midfield by starting Nwaneri, with it being an instance of the boss needing to listen to his previous comments.
Arsenal are crying out for Nwaneri’s profile
It was only three days before the Newcastle defeat that Arteta made his plan with Nwaneri clear, responding to the Hale End graduate’s performance against Preston North End.
Speaking to the media after the EFL Cup win, Arteta said words that he should have revisited prior to playing Newcastle.
“The biggest thing is to push him [Nwaneri] and then when he is pushing you grab him from behind to make sure he is stable and protected. This talent you have to push him.
“Protection is necessary, keeping an eye on him, but he needs to see that he can go and fly and not cut his wings.”
The Spaniard should have let Nwaneri fly from the first whistle at St James’ Park, not only to showcase the academy star, but to prove that as a manager, he has the adaptability to remain on course despite a key absence.
If Arteta really wants to make a statement, he should ‘push’ Nwaneri to the highest level by fielding the teenager at the San Siro against Inter Milan.
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