What Ethan Nwaneri has just done proves he and Martin Odegaard can start together for Arsenal

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Ethan Nwaneri has made huge progress already this season with Arsenal.

The 17-year-old Hale End academy graduate has started to really establish himself as a member of Mikel Arteta’s first team at the Emirates Stadium this season. 

Ethan Nwaneri has made eight appearances for the Gunners this season, with five of those coming as a substitute in the Premier League, whilst he was also handed his Champions League debut off the bench against Inter Milan. 

Arteta has also afforded the teenage midfielder two starts, both coming in the EFL Cup, in which the youngster has managed to grab three goals. Nwaneri bagged a brace against Preston North End, before striking brilliantly from range against Bolton Wanderers.

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Arsenal fans will be excited by Ethan Nwaneri’s international form

Nwaneri has also impressed on the international stage recently. In six caps for the England under-19s squad, he has scored five goals.

On Saturday, he scored for the Three Lions under-19s side in their 2-1 win over Bulgaria, having previously scored against Lithuania, France, Portugal, and Germany.

Nwaneri combined with fellow Arsenal wonderkid Myles Lewis-Skelly in the build up to his goal against Bulgaria. 

Arteta and Arsenal supporters will be delighted to see both of the club’s youngsters shining in the international arena. 

Arsenal fans have urged Arteta to play Nwaneri more for some time, and the pressure is growing on the Spanish coach to give him his first Premier League start.

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Should Nwaneri and Martin Odegaard start together for Arsenal?

Martin Odegaard has now returned to fitness for Arsenal, having been laid off with injury for several weeks. 

Odegaard did not join the Norway squad in this international break, choosing instead to remain at the Emirates Stadium in order to focus on his rehabilitation. The hope will be that he is firing on all cylinders by the time that the Premier League resumes. 

Odegaard’s return may block Nwaneri from getting more game time, but as the Gunners have struggled to score in recent weeks, there is certainly an argument that Arteta ought to include both players in his starting XI together. 

Nwaneri and Odegaard both offer goal threat and creativity, and Arsenal need as much of those things as they can get. Meanwhile, the likes of Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, and Thomas Partey can all be relied upon to add steel and defensive solidity in the middle of the park.