Ethan Nwaneri: Marseille It Ain’t So

[Zaza]

Robin Van Persie type player when deployed up front.

Exactly. This is always the feeling i have watching him...his time playing on the right has more than convinced me it is possible. Its such a shame he didn't come up when Wenger was here. I am convinced he would've tried him there a few times.

 

[MutableEarth]

Yep I’ve been really curious about him at false 9. I have this strange (potentially irrational) theory that he could eventually become a Robin Van Persie type player when deployed up front.

The way he managed to come in as a kid from the academy and was so regularly able to find a way to shuffle and create space for a shot (and fantastic shots for what it’s worth) was nothing short of remarkable.

On top of this, he is a midfielder naturally so would have a great final ball and vision.

I really think that on paper he could be an RvP style forward. Someone who can develop a wicked left foot but also contribute massively to build up play.

With him now getting stronger I would love to see it tried. The only thing which would certainly need lots of work is the hold up play with his back to goal, but to be honest it’s not like that’s hard to teach compared to the skills he possesses.

You never know, he could be the solution at CF eventually.

He actually played there quite a bit at youth level too. Unlike the situation with Lewis-Skelly where he was only groomed for the LB once Arteta decided that's where he wanted him to play, Nwaneri had already been tried out at CF - albeit to mixed results at times. His goalscoring certainly remained prominent but he did initially find it difficult to get involved regularly. I think #8 has helped him develop his ability to stay involved.

I think the freedom and ability to move will be more prevalent with CF than the right #8 that he plays in place of Ødegaard but I still think he can make the role a success if he doesn't try to completely copy Ødegaard and puts more of himself into the role (he might want to copy the OOP stuff though, that's obviously the prerequisite).

 

[Red London]

He actually played there quite a bit at youth level too. Unlike the situation with Lewis-Skelly where he was only groomed for the LB once Arteta decided that's where he wanted him to play, Nwaneri had already been tried out at CF - albeit to mixed results at times. His goalscoring certainly remained prominent but he did initially find it difficult to get involved regularly. I think #8 has helped him develop his ability to stay involved.

I think the freedom and ability to move will be more prevalent with CF than the right #8 that he plays in place of Ødegaard but I still think he can make the role a success if he doesn't try to completely copy Ødegaard and puts more of himself into the role (he might want to copy the OOP stuff though, that's obviously the prerequisite).

Yeah I think he has the skillset for it, but can easily also work out at the RCM/RAM role.

He's shown good signs of development physically but also involvement wise as you mentioned.

It’s kind of sad with young players and what position they end up playing sometimes, feel like there can be wasted potential which in some cases leading to a player not becoming the player they could have.

It’s so circumstantial. Nwaneri at CF could become something special but it would also require a lot of time and games which we can’t necessarily give.

I am hoping that MLS eventually gets the nod at CM but that’s been an issue with Arteta, once he makes his mind up on a players role he becomes super wedded to it.

 

[Big Nate]

It’s kind of sad with young players and what position they end up playing sometimes, feel like there can be wasted potential which in some cases leading to a player not becoming the player they could have.

Yeah and this also applies to all of us for whatever we decide to do in life. The company you work for, the role they put you in, or the company you decide to start can have a massive impact

 

[Red London]

Yeah and this also applies to all of us for whatever we decide to do in life. The company you work for, the role they put you in, or the company you decide to start can have a massive impact

Literally the parallel I drew in my mind as I wrote it. I’m sure 90% of people could be in a career path that suits their personality and skills even more than the one they currently are in.

But we don’t have time in life bills to pay and need to keep up with your peers etc. No capacity to just keep trying new career paths until you find the porridge which is just right.

Similar to footballers position wise also. Eventually you have to specialize in a position for the most part.

Advantage with Nwaneri is he has age on his side but the disadvantage is as much as I rate Arteta I find him too rigid to explore Nwaneri’s best possible position. He’s not adventurous as a manager in that sense.

 

[avenellroad]

Nwaneri has the old Persie instinct in and around the box. I’m not really sure he’s a playmaker at all. But as a false 9 type player he could work. Just needs minimal touches and ability to just crack shots at goal from in and around the area. We miss that sort of player.

 

[Trilly]

With him now getting stronger I would love to see it tried. The only thing which would certainly need lots of work is the hold up play with his back to goal, but to be honest it’s not like that’s hard to teach compared to the skills he possesses.

He’s got that Hale end ability to use his centre of gravity and body really well, combine that with a clearly elite first touch and I think he could easily be a ‘hold up play via technique’ guys like Aguero and prime Jesus.

This is an area where I want to see innovation from Arteta over the coming years, think outside the box. Ethan’s two elite attributes are literally his shooting and close control, there’s got to be a false 9 attempt at some point.

 

[Halend]

He’s got that Hale end ability to use his centre of gravity and body really well, combine that with a clearly elite first touch and I think he could easily be a ‘hold up play via technique’ guys like Aguero and prime Jesus.

This is an area where I want to see innovation from Arteta over the coming years, think outside the box. Ethan’s two elite attributes are literally his shooting and close control, there’s got to be a false 9 attempt at some point.

Yeah i do think Arteta needs to evolve when it comes to attacking philosophy as he can be rigid when it comes to the attributes he wants in every position on the pitch. The only position he has had different profiles is the number 9 with a 5"9 Jesus and a 6"4 Havertz so you would think he might be willing to try Ethan there.

I really don't want Ethan to develop into another Ødegaard as i don't like that profile at RCM anyway and you will loose the things that make Nwaneri special. Arteta needs to be more flexible in the profiles he wants.

 

[Trilly]

The only position he has had different profiles is the number 9 with a 5"9 Jesus and a 6"4 Havertz so you would think he might be willing to try Ethan there

They essentially did the same job though, just in very different ways.

I think Arteta’s 9 needs to occupy CBs, link up with the midfield and lead the press. As @Red London has said Ethan as a false 9 or ST might end up being one of those ‘what-ifs’

 

[Red London]

This is an area where I want to see innovation from Arteta over the coming years, think outside the box. Ethan’s two elite attributes are literally his shooting and close control, there’s got to be a false 9 attempt at some point.

He did mention it tbf didn’t he? I just remembered Arteta said something about Nwaneri being able to play up top.

Hopefully it’s in his plans to try him there but I’m not sure if he will.

 

[MutableEarth]

Nwaneri has the old Persie instinct in and around the box. I’m not really sure he’s a playmaker at all. But as a false 9 type player he could work. Just needs minimal touches and ability to just crack shots at goal from in and around the area. We miss that sort of player.

Can't remember who it was but someone said he's more of a Coutinho than an Özil if that makes sense. I kinda hear it - it's not that he can't play those passes because he can and has, but his instincts is always largely attacking in nature rather than looking to create for others. I'd argue that Max Dowman, despite being pretty greedy himself, is probably a more creative player overall but Nwaneri marginally has him beat in terms of ball-striking and goalscoring IMO.

Come to think of it, we don't really have a pure playmaker in the ranks right at this moment (off the top of my head anyway). That profile is most likely gonna end up being Holger Quintero, one of the Quintero twins we signed a month or so ago.

 

[MutableEarth]

I really don't want Ethan to develop into another Ødegaard as i don't like that profile at RCM anyway and you will loose the things that make Nwaneri special. Arteta needs to be more flexible in the profiles he wants.

Hard agree. Nwaneri is the punchier profile and I think we need that juxtaposition rather than a plug-and-play Ødegaard. Ødegaard has properly settled into his current profile and he's still getting quite a bit of mileage out of it but I feel sometimes we need something different to what he offers.

 

[Kysus]

The overwhelming majority of his sporadic minutes this season have been not just quality but fruitful for the team. His lack of game time is a real mystery to me and I hope it's rectified in this second half of the season.

For the exact same reason that Eze is not getting much playing time either.

Neither of them are the player type to help control a game. So right now at least he is more suited to a counterattacking team.

I have the hope he can become our number 9

 

[MikelHadADream]

Can't lie even though he's barely played this season, I'm liking what I am seeing.

He needs to learn the game, but that is completely normal for a guy his age. What I really liked against Portsmouth was his physicality and desire to take responsibility. Those are things you either have or you dont.

In regards to his play time, I think it would be better for him to stick around and learn in a fingers crossed, winning culture. Similar to the way Foden was brought up at CIty.

 

[grange]

Mik is now actively ruining his career progression.

 

[Iwobeast]

We’re starving for goals and the guys who are lethal in front of goal (Ethan and Eze) can’t get any minutes. Make it make sense

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Time to deploy this young superstar I think. He wins us a game like yesterday IMO. He’s an incredible shooter and he’s excellent at finding space.

Bring him in the fold. We rejected loan approaches now play the guy.

 

[TH14shahriar]

He's the solution

 

[Sanchez11]

He's the solution

He is imo, i was told the other day its not Odes job to tackle. So whats the difference, let the kid cook.

 

[Tourbillion]

Better already than Ødegaard even in midfield.