I’ve seen enough of Nwaneri playing premier league opponents where there are structured defenses to know that he still has some way to go. The talent is abundant, but it takes a bit more to learn how to impose yourself, manage the game, and be active in both directions. I can’t complain about his use to date.

And I mentioned somewhere that he and MLS are on track to do more minutes than each of Nelson, Vieira and ESR last season. So this idea that Arteta is hiding them in a box is just misinformation

I think Nwaneri could have been used a bit more over our poorer run, especially when we were persisting with 2 DMs and failing to win. Didn't even need to start. I feel like it shows a bit of urgency to make that kind of sub, and can be the spark that wins it.

Might not, but you can't know unless you try. It transmits something different, to use an Artetaism.

Jesus has such a multiplier effect when he’s playing at the top of his game. Drifts to the left, to the right, drives with the ball, first time flicks and touches, hold up play, winning second balls, connecting with everyone across that front line.

That’s the sort of forward I want to see us bring in (one who isn’t mentality and physically fragile of course). Not a boring lump like Gyokeres who can run fast and hit the ball hard.

goon

Now someone put Declan's face on Dinho's.

Saka out for six weeks. Could be curtains for our title challenge unless Jesus's purple patch lasts for a few more games.

Dom hopefully it's closer to 4 weeks. saka is made of tough stuff. this is fucked though. if we were going to make up ground quickly, it was going to be over the Xmas period

Clrnc But the same people who said that have no issue with 18 year old MLS playing and starting. So just wondering is it because of that 1 year difference of age.

the only reason MLS is getting minutes is cos practically every single LB we had is either injured or nursing one.
Heck MLS himself is only just back from an injury. That position is absolutely cursed.

RocktheCasbah

Yeah Nwaneri isn’t ready for the big time like that yet. Very much still in the learning phase, which is absolutely fine. Also just want to ask for a bit of respek for Havertz plzntnkyou. That’s a top player we are talking about.

Clrnc What I mean is, previously there are a lot of talks that 30-40 minutes per game might absolutely destroy Nwaneri and his career longevity because of his age. Even if he is a better fit or better quality player than our other options, we can't play him because of his age.

You are reading this on Twitter, surely. Total misrepresentation of the arguments made on this board.

It's been said on here that at 17 Nwaneri's quite likely not to be physically and psychologically ideal to risk playing ninety regularly.

I suspect that's true. There have probably been sound reasons such a young kid isn't starting. However with Saka injured I think we'll see more of him.

Burnwinter it’s not just age, it’s position.

The first thing to note is that Arteta got rid of both ESR and Vieira to clear a path for this kid. So he was clearly not marginalising him

Second - and this is true for MLS as well - is that CM is the hardest position to play. Odegaard covers so much ground, runs with the ball, shows when people need an outlet, leads most creative metrics, runs off the ball, leads press, tracks back.

What is actually an opportunity is this Saka injury. It might give Nwaneri real time while we source a forward.