Ethan Nwaneri: Marseille It Ain’t So

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

Right now we have too many attackers, but it just doesn't seem like that because we're having a massive injury crisis. I don't it is sustainable to have as many attackers as we have unless we are planning on constantly having an injury crisis. If our injury crisis goes away in the second half of the season, it will be very obvious that we have too many attackers.

Here are our current attackers.

ST: Havertz, Gyokeres, Jesus, Merino*
LW: Trossard, Martinelli, Eze*, Madueke*
RW: Saka, Madueke, Dowman
AM: Ødegaard, Eze, Nwaneri, Merino*

Normally, the goal is to have two options for each position, and we have that in midfield and defense, but in attack we have eight players for three positions (nine players if you count Merino as a CF).

In the summer, I think we could sell two attackers, and that would open up more minutes for Nwaneri.

Given the intensity we play at and the constant injuries we need a squad this big. Remember we've lost league titles because we didn't have enough squad depth.

There's an argument for shifting some players but it could also backfire with the wrong replacements. Just look at Liverpool who think they hit the jackpot this summer

 

[lomekian]

More broadly, Ethan's overall game is developing well, despite a lack of minutes...his distribution is more considered while still.crisp, and his OOP game is improving. I think I we'll see plenty of him and he'll be impactful. Expect him to get 4 starts at least by end of Jan if he stays fit

 

[Sanchez11]

If he presses more he will overtake Ode

 

[maxxspeed]

If he presses more he will overtake Ode

He will overtake Ode in two years. It takes time and experience to play the Arsenal 10 position. Don't forget he's 18.

 

[2Smokeyy]

I genuinely think Nwaneri could be doing something similar like Karl even though he does look talented. Nwaneri’s ball striking is probably one of the best in our squad tbf.

 

[Sanchez11]

Hes sharp, can shoot, scores, good carrier, plays good 1-2s. Its there for him. Take it.

 

[Big Poppa]

If he presses more he will overtake Ode

It’s not just pressing its understanding which spaces to occupy, timing runs, knowing where you are in relation to your teammates. They are also very different stylistically. Ethan’s the better ball carrier and a shot monster while Ødegaard is the better passer and assist monster.

 

[viktor]

I genuinely think Nwaneri could be doing something similar like Karl even though he does look talented. Nwaneri’s ball striking is probably one of the best in our squad tbf.

his crossing with left foot also one of the best in our squad

 

[merciarsene]

I understand how we fans explain this to ourselves. Everyone else is crap, except the people Mikel rates. Dont tell me we couldnt have used Nketiah or ESR or even Iwobi instead of the dross we put up with over the years. Dont tell me we couldnt have used Nketiah or Ballard now.

People like Welbeck and Aubameyang are still looking like real strikers and banging them in, while we keep trying to justify playing Ødegaard, a crocked Saka, a struggling Gyokeres and as for crocks, lets not go there. We have Haavertz and Jesus. Maybe its us who crock players.

ultimately its a matter of opinion and it seems some fans are so scarred by the venom they heaped on Wenger and then Emery, that now they dont want to criticize Arteta at all.

Willock doesn't really have a position, Nelson is a crock who plays scared, ESR is only now getting sharp and match fit and still in and out for Fulham, Eddie barely plays for Palace, Balogun has been mostly awful for Monaco, Ballard is a beefier Rob Holding and Bierrth is essengially a pound shop Gyokeres. Emi was a miss but he pushed to leave (

I loved them all and desperately wanted them to make it, but for reasons of talent, fitness and mentality none of them did. Meanwhile, they raised enough money to buy Declan Rice.

As for Tierney on the wing, only Nelson or ESR could play there, and as it happens both were injured at Fulham at the time.

Worth remembering that for the disappointment at not seeing as much of Ethan this year, he's still as young as any of them when they debuted, and has done more thAn most at the club already.

The main threat to his minutes going forward is if Eze can't contribute from the left, because he is rightly ahead of Ethan at 10.

 

[HattoriHanzo]

I understand how we fans explain this to ourselves. Everyone else is crap, except the people Mikel rates. Dont tell me we couldnt have used Nketiah or ESR or even Iwobi instead of the dross we put up with over the years. Dont tell me we couldnt have used Nketiah or Ballard now.

People like Welbeck and Aubameyang are still looking like real strikers and banging them in, while we keep trying to justify playing Ødegaard, a crocked Saka, a struggling Gyokeres and as for crocks, lets not go there. We have Haavertz and Jesus. Maybe its us who crock players.

ultimately its a matter of opinion and it seems some fans are so scarred by the venom they heaped on Wenger and then Emery, that now they dont want to criticize Arteta at all.

Are you new in this forum?

 

[Arsenal1508]

Shows he deserve minutes. Can't keep carrying on Ødegaard just because he's captain.

 

[Mraven]

His situation remind me a lot of Martinelli pre 22/23. It’s how Arteta treats younger players. You sit the bench until you are ready. For Nwaneri it’s just a matter of time. I saw enough conviction on Wednesday to know that he is inevitable

 

[Rasmi]

I genuinely think Nwaneri could be doing something similar like Karl even though he does look talented. Nwaneri’s ball striking is probably one of the best in our squad tbf.

He’s a level above Nwaneri. What he has unlike Nwaneri is great vision

 

[2Smokeyy]

He’s a level above Nwaneri. What he has unlike Nwaneri is great vision

Comes down to game time. Nwaneri is obviously very talented.

 

[Rasmi]

Comes down to game time. Nwaneri is obviously very talented.

Nwaneri is very technical just like this kid. But already you can see the difference in footballing IQ. It’s like Madueke and Saka. Despite Noni being capable of great things. You can see Saka has clearly greater football IQ and decision making

 

[Trilly]

I genuinely think Nwaneri could be doing something similar like Karl even though he does look talented. Nwaneri’s ball striking is probably one of the best in our squad tbf.

Yeah he’s very special but the Bundesliga is the best league to be in as an attacking player. Add that his team is levels clear of every team they face almost every week and I could easily see Ethan having a highlight reel like this.

I mean, he already does and that’s in the PL.

Agree with @Rasmi that maybe Karl has better decision making but Ethan’s football IQ isn’t bad enough that I think he’s a Martinelli who will never improve in that regard. Seems more like someone who will learn very quickly given the game time. I’m all for Ethan going on loan tbh, this isn’t the same team where Saka was able to get all the minutes he needed.

 

[2Smokeyy]

Yeah he’s very special but the Bundesliga is the best league to be in as an attacking player. Add that his team is levels clear of every team they face almost every week and I could easily see Ethan having a highlight reel like this.

I mean, he already does and that’s in the PL.

Agree with @Rasmi that maybe Karl has better decision making but Ethan’s football IQ isn’t bad enough that I think he’s a Martinelli who will never improve in that regard. Seems more like someone who will learn very quickly given the game time. I’m all for Ethan going on loan tbh, this isn’t the same team where Saka was able to get all the minutes he needed.

Exactly, the league definitely plays a factor as does a run of games in a position which is favourable for Nwaneri at his age than being shifted out wide - the demands of playing in Saka/Olise’s position as he had to do initially probably isn’t best suited to what Ethan has in his locker, I think Dowman looks a perfect fit for there.

The whole level above is hard to really grasp as @Rasmi is getting at until Nwaneri has a consistent run of games like Karl is doing. They both already have at least one standout attribute in their ball striking which is a recipe for success.

 

[viktor]

if karl meet joelinton, guimaraes, tonali, dont think his leg will survive

that bundesliga level made a lot player become too overrated

 

[Trilly]

Exactly, the league definitely plays a factor as does a run of games in a position which is favourable for Nwaneri at his age than being shifted out wide - the demands of playing in Saka/Olise’s position as he had to do initially probably isn’t best suited to what Ethan has in his locker, I think Dowman looks a perfect fit for there.

The whole level above is hard to really grasp as @Rasmi is getting at until Nwaneri has a consistent run of games like Karl is doing. They both already have at least one standout attribute in their ball striking which is a recipe for success.

Also have to remember that players with elite technical ability like Ethan very rarely turn out to have poor decision making.

High technical security typically means less time spent focusing on controlling the ball/chasing loose touches etc and more time being able to process the game. You rarely see elite technicians with low football IQ, some may overdo it due to hubris but that’s not the same thing.

 

[lomekian]

I understand how we fans explain this to ourselves. Everyone else is crap, except the people Mikel rates. Dont tell me we couldnt have used Nketiah or ESR or even Iwobi instead of the dross we put up with over the years. Dont tell me we couldnt have used Nketiah or Ballard now.

People like Welbeck and Aubameyang are still looking like real strikers and banging them in, while we keep trying to justify playing Ødegaard, a crocked Saka, a struggling Gyokeres and as for crocks, lets not go there. We have Haavertz and Jesus. Maybe its us who crock players.

ultimately its a matter of opinion and it seems some fans are so scarred by the venom they heaped on Wenger and then Emery, that now they dont want to criticize Arteta at all.

You're going a bit too deep on this. We had some good youngsters, most of whom were bench calibre. The best got ruined by long running injury issues, and the best of the rest wanted to leave rather than stay on the bench. A. Couple were just not good enough at all.

Hindsight has so far shown that, yes, they were bench level players at best, and the ones we got good fees for were right to be sold.

It's only fit ESR or Ski who were good enough to get enough games for us for it to be worth their while staying, and they both asked to leave.

It's all well and good saying we could use Eddie or Flo now, but neither would sign up to be ,4th choice striker.

We got good money for them, they got to play a bit more elsewhere. There's no shame in it for either party.

The thing is, we are really really good now, and with a deep squad, so only the elite youth talents have much of a chance.

You are saying it's criticism of the players Arteta doesn't rate...given Nketiah, Nelson, ESR, Emi all got their first meaningful run of games under Arteta, he clearly did rate them. Usually higher than the fans. And given that having options better than Nelson or Nketiah might well have won us the league in 23\24, it's odd playing the Manger hates the kids card. Even more so when our 4 youngest ever players are all in the squad and debuted by him, and that he platformed Saka, MLS and Ethan earlier than expected.

Also, why are you bringing up Iwobi? He was sold by Raul to find Sold 6 months before Arteta arrived