Nwanners!: Page 25 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Nwanners!

JazzG

Sicario2 Goals at this young age aren't always a good indicator, Messi around a similar age scored around 5 or 6 goals but when you actually watched Messi you could see what he could become. Yamal is a live wire for Barca, type of player you'd buy a ticket to watch.

jones It's not fair to compare Nwaneri to him, we should just enjoy that we seem to have another world class talent turning out for us. Only thing outside injuries I'm concerned is if he develops a case of Alli/Fodenitis where he goes for goal all the time, I like that he backs himself to have a go but he needs to find some balance to releasing a team mate.

Agreed, Nwaneri is one of the top young talents in world football but Yamal looks heir to the Messi/C.Ronaldo throne type talent. It is an unfair comparison and we should just let players be rather than starting these stupid comparisons.

samthegooner

I think the comparisons to Messi and Lamal are off base for Nwaneri personally if we look at play style. Lamal is clearly a winger and will be his entire career. Messi is the GOAT for me personally and I’ve never seen anyone even remotely like him in terms of his touch on the ball and ability to run at speed with the ball never leaving his immediate perimeter. Nwaneri is already more powerful than both of those players to me though and his ball striking on both feet is ahead of any 17 year old I can remember outside of maybe Rooney. He’s got some elements of Rooney’s toughness and ball striking, Hazard’s balance and touch on the ball and the half space crossing of KDB. Ultimately I think his best role will likely be the Odegaard advanced midfield spot.

QuincyAbeyie

Is Lamal the new Wilshire?

Qwiss

QuincyAbeyie he's the new Fran Merida!

jones

QuincyAbeyie Jack Whiltshire

Qwiss

jones Only thing outside injuries I'm concerned is if he develops a case of Alli/Fodenitis where he goes for goal all the time, I like that he backs himself to have a go but he needs to find some balance to releasing a team mate.

In this team its a welcome break from the players who constantly shirk responsibility in front of goal.

Doc

shame we have so many wingers out, would like to see what he can do upfront

USArsenal

I dont mind him driving toward goal. He's got quite the shot on him, so i would always welcome him having a go when he gets the chance.

flobaba

Starting to feel more and more like he’s… the chosen one?

Lol, comparisons to Yamal are foolhardy. But this kid is going to be a monster anyway. Proper beast potential. That left foot curler is going to be his calling card, and he’ll be tough to stop once he has a running start one v one against any defender. Like Saka, only better. It’s incredible we have this sort of talent coming through the academy. Him and Myles? Did you see man u’s bench? Amorim didn’t dare pull the trigger until the game was well and truly lost.

Wonder if nwaneri will end up displacing Saka who in turn displaces martinelli. Winger issue solved? Martinelli, Trossard and Jesus become your very useful backups/ subs… Perhaps switch focus on bringing in not one, but 2 top level strikers, one of whom has the versatility to operate from the wings as well if needed.

flobaba

Basically, Salah and Sesko is where I’m going with this.

Don’t care about who plays where at that point, just throw em all in there and let them figure it out. Salah,
, Ethan, Saka, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Myles, Raya. Sesko can be eased in. No rush.

Claudius

Shiny new toy and people forget that Saka put this team on his back for a couple of seasons now. Nwaneri will move or be moved when Saka is fully fit.

Qwiss

Claudius they need to rotate when Saka is back. Saka will need to be eased in and Ethan will need some rest.

QuincyAbeyie

Claudius Nwaneri will move for now, but I don't think you should look at it as disrespect to Saka. It's entirely possible that the XI overall can improve by moving Saka to the left if it turns out he's very capable there as well while Nwaneri isn't. That doesn't mean anyone thinks Nwaneri is a better RW than Saka.

Claudius

Qwiss I pity the defender who faces Nwaneri for 70 minutes, and celebrates his departure. Only to squint towards the bench and see Saka coming on to finish him off

RocktheCasbah

Qwiss longer term, I really do wonder whether Saka's future lies in the interior spaces. We've been crying out for someone with his skills in the centre forever. Perhaps Nwaneri can facilitate this.

samthegooner

RocktheCasbah I think the real question is who would be better in the interior spaces - Nwaneri or Saka? I'm very conflicted. Would likely depend on Nwaneri's physical development over the next year or two and if he gains any pace at all. Both of them lack the top end pace that would make them untouchable on the wing IMO, although they get around it with their strength and ability on the ball. I also love how both are so two-footed. Wish we had more of that in the team right now and it's why I love Semenyo and Nico Williams. When Saka returns, I would love to see Nwaneri at false 9 or LW rotating with Martinelli if possible - not sure if it would work but would love to see it.

Qwiss

RocktheCasbah I don't think so. Nwaneri is the one for the middle for me. A true number 10 with major goal threat and creativity. I think he'll be well clear of Foden and Palmer for that spot in the next year or two. Leave Saka where he is, where he's proven. Let Ethan play in his best position.

Claudius

QuincyAbeyie i could see that happening over time. but for now, we have so many strong relationships that have been built around Saka. and he has been a consistent scorer / creative from the left. this guy was running away with the assist title before his injury.

Qwiss

samthegooner When Saka returns, I would love to see Nwaneri at false 9 or LW rotating with Martinelli if possible - not sure if it would work but would love to see it.

I was thinking about this earlier and wonder if we could have a bit of an asymetrical front 3 with Saka doing his usual thing, Nwaneri as a false 9 and Martinelli on the left but pushed furthest forward of the 3. TBF we have played like that before but I'm thinking about pushing it to another extreme. I think having a player like Nwaneri in there would give defences serious worries and in a different way to Havertz. Might make more space for Martinelli to get in behind because if you drop off Nwaneri is going to pop off a shot. Plus it makes it harder to double up on Saka. Then you have Rice breaking the lines with runs from deep and Ode pulling the strings.

Tactics

This is very similar to the situation Madrid faced with Vinicius and Rodrygo, 2 supremely talented individuals who look best in the same position (left wing). Vinicius was the more established one, so they stuck with hm on the left and moved Rodrygo to the opposite wing. However Rodrygo is hardly ever on the right wing because Madrid use an overlapping right back. This makes it possible for him to roam to the centre or even left wing at times.

I watched Rayo v Barca last night, and Barca had a similar set up. Raphina was mostly playing through the centre because Balde was always so high up the pitch. We could do something similar. Instead of having our LB invert and have Nwaneri keeping the width, we could have Nwaneri invert and have our LB providing the width. It still gives us 4 players in midfield.

daredevil

Tactics

Problem is MLS looks to have taken the LB position and he inverts.

samthegooner

daredevil I hope we see a good amount of Calafiori at LB next year (or later this season) with MLS playing in the midfield. I think it would be such a dynamic lineup and would also allow the LW to play more centrally whether that be Martinelli or someone like Nwaneri.

Tactics

daredevil Do you think Mikel sees him as a LB long-term? Thought he's only playing there due to injuries and the quality we have in midfield at the moment. Theo Hernandez could be available on the cheap this summer (contract runs out in 2026), Arteta may be be tempted since he loves buying LBs and he could transform our left hand side with his pace, dribbling and delivery.

Anyway, this is a non-issue. I remember there were a lot of question marks about Rooney and Tevez fitting into the same team since they both liked occupying the same space. Worked out well in the end. Same with Vinicius and Mbappe.

lorddulaarsenal

Qwiss exactly this. Nwaneri is better playing centrally. He is better going both ways than Saka, although that’s no slight on Saka.

Ethan is also very adept at dropping deep, collecting the ball and pulling strings with his range of passing or alternatively he can get the team going by making powerful defence bursting runs.

I’d play Nwaneri and Odegaard ahead of Rice.

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