Arsenal are preparing for their biggest game of the season as they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals in the coming week.
The Gunners kick off the tie by hosting Los Blancos at the Emirates Stadium, hopeful of taking a lead with them to the Bernabeu in the second leg.
Mikel Arteta has some bold decisions to make across his team, with Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury leaving Arsenal with some questions to be answered in the backline.
The Arsenal boss doesn’t just have that area to think about, though, as there is also the frontline, where a harsh decision may have to be made.
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Arsenal must drop Ethan Nwaneri for Bukayo Saka return against Real Madrid
One of the debates that will have been raging around the head of Mikel Arteta is exactly how he gets Bukayo Saka back into the team.
The winger is without a doubt one of the most important players at Arsenal, as shown by the reaction fans gave for Saka’s injury return.
So far, the winger has been ramping up the minutes that he plays, with two appearances made since coming back into the team.
“He’s in a much better place,” Arteta said on Saka’s fitness after the clash with Everton.
“Obviously, we have built that up. He played 30 minutes, today he’s played 49, a little bit less because we whistled before we ended the game. And after that, he will be in a much better place.”
With Saka now in line for a return, the main question has been surrounding who could possibly miss out for him.
With Gabriel Martinelli returning to form, along with the ability of Martin Odegaard, it may end up being Ethan Nwaneri who is dropped.
It’s harsh for the starlet, who has stepped up well since moving from the Hale End academy and replacing Saka on the right.
“He never [looks nervous], he’s so composed, calm and confident in his ability,” Arteta said in January on the impact of Nwaneri, showing how well he has adjusted.
Despite that step up, the impact of Saka simply can’t be questioned on the right flank.
How Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri compare
The impact of both stars is really clear, though Saka may have that edge in terms of experience and output.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bukayo Saka | 26 | 10 | 14 |
| Ethan Nwaneri | 31 | 8 | 2 |
Saka has two more goals and 12 more assists in fewer appearances, showing just the levels he has hit around the injury he suffered.
That’s not to downplay Nwaneri, who has ten goal involvements, having only just turned 18, showing plenty of potential for the future.
While it remains to be seen which heights he can hit, Saka is the option that should be picked there.
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