Mikel Arteta must recall axed Arsenal star to replace Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard after red card and injury woes

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Arsenal drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield as Mikel Arteta encountered yet another squad issue.

The Gunners were unable to confirm a top-five finish at Anfield, as Arsenal and Liverpool drew 2-2. 

It was a game of two halves for the visitors, who were rolled over in the first half before fighting back from two goals down in the second.

Though Arteta will be satisfied with the spirit the Arsenal squad displayed, the manager’s woes in the absentee list only grew. 

• READ MORE: Two winners and three losers from Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool including Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey

Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino faced early exits vs Liverpool

Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice were missed at Anfield, as the duo were not named in the squad due to injury concerns. 

Arsenal’s injury record this season has derailed Arteta’s dreams of lifting major silverware, with even more key absences plaguing the boss. 

Leandro Trossard appeared to clutch his hamstring before signalling to the bench that he needed to be substituted off, adding the Belgian to the injury list. 

There’s now a chance that Trossard could miss the action against Newcastle United, and he’s not the only one.

Mikel Merino was sent off for a second yellow card offence, resulting in the Spaniard collecting a one-game suspension. 

Merino will miss the clash against his former loan club, giving Arteta more work to do regarding who replaces the two players.

Fortunately, one solution sticks out above all.

Ethan Nwaneri must be restored to Arsenal’s starting XI

While there’s no guarantee that Trossard will miss the meeting with Newcastle, Arsenal’s luck in the hamstring department will trigger fear in the dressing room.

Arteta should not weep about the two suspected absentees ahead of matchday 37, as Ethan Nwaneri presents the perfect replacement. 

Remarkably, the Hale End graduate could be a worthy replacement for either Trossard or Merino’s role, which must prompt Arteta to restore trust in the teenager. 

With 11 goal contributions in all competitions in his breakthrough season, Nwaneri has a spark that the Gunners can reignite, with all eyes set to be on Arteta’s next move with the youngster.

Arteta insisted that Nwaneri has played more than expected this season, but that hasn’t stopped fans from wondering where the 18-year-old has been in recent weeks.

The academy graduate played just one minute in the Champions League since the quarter-finals, and has racked up only 41 Premier League minutes since matchday 33.

Now is the perfect time for the manager to call on the youngster once more, with a Nwaneri-shaped void to fill in the starting XI.