Ethan Nwaneri’s impressive cameos beg the question: how might he fit into Arsenal’s starting XI?

Ethan Nwaneri’s impressive cameos beg the question: how might he fit into Arsenal’s starting XI?

It’s rare to see a 17-year-old go into a game in a stalemate with as much personality as Ethan Nwaneri did against Leicester City last weekend.

Just 40 seconds after coming on, he pushed forward and fired a shot from outside the penalty area that forced Mads Hermansen into a strong save. His first action of the game changed the tension at the Emirates. The crowd grew and the energy seemed to transfer onto the pitch, and more chances arose soon after.

This was Nwaneri’s fourth Premier League appearance, but it was arguably the most important one yet.

His first two league appearances came when Arsenal were leading 3-0 and 6-0 against Brentford and West Ham United respectively. The third came last month when Arsenal were 1-0 up in the north London derby and Bukayo Saka had to be substituted with cramp. This time the game was still even and the score was 2:2. It took someone to provide the decisive moment rather than see a result and there was no question that Nwaneri contributed to the victory that followed.


Mikel Arteta trusted Ethan Nwaneri to change the dynamics of the game against Leicester (Visionhaus/Getty Images)

It wasn’t just Nwaneri’s debut performance and shot that impressed in his first league appearance at the Emirates. As against Bolton, against whom he scored two goals, his touch was assured when the ball fell to him in a packed box. The teenager also showed the confidence to take on defenders in these situations, turning back and forth before flicking crosses into the box.

Arteta’s use of the midfielder in pre-season was already an encouraging sign, amassing 189 minutes in five games, but the confidence shown in him since Martin Odegaard’s ankle injury is telling. In a press conference ahead of Bolton, the Arsenal manager admitted that both Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who last came on as a substitute against Paris Saint-Germain, were “dealing with a situation that is probably a bit unexpected”.

For Nwaneri, that came with his cameo against Spurs. Gabriel Jesus replaced Saka on the right, as he did against West Ham last season, asking the teenager to move forward while defending the wings. It was a gesture that not only protected Nwaneri from an arguably more difficult task on the outside, but also allowed him to show a different side to his game. Coming on as a centre-forward, he was Arsenal’s first defender as Spurs attempted to beat them, responding well with key defensive and defensive moves.

He showed that appetite to defend against Bolton and Leicester too. A slide tackle near the touchline drew as much celebration as his shot from distance last weekend and indirectly led to Arsenal’s fourth goal.

The quality Nwaneri has shown, particularly in recent weeks, could raise questions about when and where Arteta thinks he is ready to make his first league start.

Against Leicester, Nwaneri replaced Thomas Partey but was not tied to a position, just another attacking player who helped force another Arsenal goal. What will benefit Nwaneri is that his natural ability and development over recent seasons will allow him to play in multiple positions under Arteta.

Two seasons ago he was used in midfield, on the wing and in attack for the U18 and U21 players. Last season there was more emphasis on becoming a ‘pocket player’, which was evident when he came on as a substitute against West Ham and moved across the width of the pitch despite replacing Saka on the right wing. This season, he started pre-season as a number 8 on the left and finished it with cameo appearances on the right of a three-man midfielder, where he combined well with Saka in play.

All this attention will be helpful for Arteta, especially as Arsenal’s context has already changed compared to the weekend. Summer signing Mikel Merino finally made his debut against PSG, with the team’s shape not changing much compared to the 4-4-2 system they have started with of late. This was probably because PSG had more possession at the time, but it showed that Merino could also be ready to go soon.

When signing him, the idea was for Merino to fill the midfield three alongside Odegaard and Declan Rice. There is no reason why Arteta cannot return to this form with Nwaneri and Merino as the wider of the three midfielders if he sees fit. Merino’s debut gave a glimpse of how effective he is in tackles, as his long legs fend off one PSG attack after another. Paired with Rice, that could give Nwaneri more stability to express himself, but timing could also be important.

While Southampton at home seems like a good opportunity to give such a talent a first start, the game against Leicester is an example of how not all games go as planned. Arteta has stuck to the 4-4-2 shape, with Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz leading the way in this block of play, and given that this was also the last one before the international break, it might make sense to see this through to the end.

In this case, it might be more likely to see more cameo appearances as an additional creative option.

Despite Nwaneri’s clear quality, context is also crucial. The last player of his kind to make the breakthrough, Jack Wilshere, is a good example. He made his Premier League debut at the age of 16 in September 2008 and scored his first Arsenal goal in the League Cup just over a week later. However, it wasn’t until February 2010 that he made his first league start, when he was loaned out to Bolton at the age of 18.

That doesn’t mean Nwaneri will have to wait a similar amount of time, it’s just easy to demand that he be in the starting lineup. The reality of this becoming a regular occurrence may require patience.

However, Nwaneri has even more intangible factors working in his favor than his skills and versatility. After his brace against Bolton, Arteta said: “He really feels part of us. He plays with that confidence and understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch. It goes beyond what anyone could expect.”

Ahead of the PSG win, Arteta added, speaking about the opportunity given to him by then-coach Luis Fernandez and how it affects him now: “The first thing they need besides the coach is the respect of their teammates .” The teammates look at them as if to say, “He’s one of us,” and he’ll respond.”

Moments like his shot and his shot against Leicester show the confidence that Nwaneri has. The discipline in his tackles and blocks shows his understanding. It’s the smaller moments, like players badgering Arteta to substitute him against West Ham last season when club captain Odegaard was constantly feeding him the ball, that show he has their respect.

Arteta has said opportunities will continue to arise. Regardless of whether he starts in the league or comes off the bench, Nwaneri looks set to continue to make a strong impression – especially with Odegaard still out injured.

(Top photo: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)