Mikel Arteta built on Arsenal’s win over Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates with a victory over Leicester City.
After spending some time on the road, the Gunners returned to N5 in midweek to battle Bolton in the EFL Cup.
Arsenal emerged from the fixture with a 5-1 win, seeing Ethan Nwaneri steal the headlines for his brace on his full senior debut.
Against Leicester City in the Premier League, Arteta handed the 17-year-old another chance to shine, something he did during his short time on the pitch.
- READ MORE: Five things we learned as Arsenal beat Leicester City 4-2 in dramatic Premier League victory
Ethan Nwaneri ‘changed the game’ for Arsenal against Leicester City
Arteta called on Nwaneri to show his worth once more in front of the home crowd, welcoming the Englishman into the game against Leicester when the Gunners were in need of a goal.
The teenager eased the tension inside the Emirates from the moment he stepped on the pitch, as journalist Charles Watts explained on the Inside Arsenal podcast.
“Nwaneri changed the game, he was exactly what we needed for those last 10 minutes,” the journalist said.
“He gave everyone a lift. For those final 10 minutes, instead of it being everyone getting overly anxious, he gave everyone that extra little impetus.”
Watts then called on Arteta to start the attacking midfielder next time out in the Premier League against Southampton, backing Nwaneri to assume the role in midfield beside Declan Rice.
“I think he has to start against Southampton 100%, I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t, he’s ready, he’s absolutely ready, we’re seeing that. I’d be playing Nwaneri next to Rice in midfield.”
There are many who would echo Watts’ opinion, with Nwaneri showing over the past week that he is more than capable of being a starter in Arteta’s squad at this moment in time.
Mikel Arteta has to answer Nwaneri’s message against Southampton
Against Leicester, Nwaneri came close to scoring when the stakes were high, showing a level of confidence that came from a place of motivation to help his team.
The 17-year-old showed no fear when attempting to make the game his own, handing Arteta another reason why he should be handed a starting spot against the Saints.
Nwaneri was branded ‘fearless’ by Theo Walcott following his cameo against Leicester, which Arteta must reward, particularly as the gap to utilise the teenager begins to close.
With Martin Odegaard currently out of action due to injury, now is the time for the manager to give the Hale End product a platform to shine in his favoured position, with the captain’s absence a subtle blessing to learn more about Nwaneri.
There’s not much more that the teen can do to impress in the first team, with every opportunity producing something bright this season.
Given how fast fixtures are coming around for Arsenal, with Champions League football back in the schedule, Arteta could unleash Nwaneri as his secret weapon, with there no chance better than when the Gunners host Southampton at the Emirates.
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