The environment round Arsenal for the time being is extraordinary.
Mikel Arteta’s facet are flying within the Premier League, League Cup and Champions League.
Furthermore, they’re doing so amid an harm disaster which has left them with a threadbare assault and with out summer time signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Luckily, even with all of the accidents, there are a number of methods Arteta may handle the Swede’s absence for the weekend’s recreation towards Sunderland.
Arsenal’s Gyokeres options
A technique Arteta may remedy the issue of Gyokeres being out is by transferring Leandro Trossard from the wing to the centre.
The Belgian is in high-quality type for the time being, having produced seven objective involvements in 13 video games, and as Ian Wright factors out, is arguably the membership’s “finest finisher.”
Nevertheless, in taking part in the 30-year-old up entrance, the left-hand facet is weakened, particularly with Gabriel Martinelli out and Eberechi Eze taking part in in the course of the park.
One other answer, and a daring one at that, could possibly be handy Andre Harriman-Annous his first league begin for the membership, as whereas he didn’t begin towards Brighton, he impressed.
The 17-year-old was making harmful runs, choosing up pockets of house and demonstrating a better technical degree than many might need been anticipating.
Nevertheless, what is much extra doubtless is for Arteta to start out Mikel Merino within the 9.
In any case, the Spaniard has proven a formidable ending capacity during the last 12 months or so and popped up with two targets towards Slavia Prague in the course of the week.
Nevertheless, there may be another choice, one that could be a little bolder, however could possibly be notably efficient towards Sunderland.
Arteta’s shock answer to Gyokeres’ harm
Now, there’s a very sturdy probability that Arteta opts to start out Merino on Saturday, however there are a couple of causes he ought to contemplate handing a uncommon begin up prime to Ethan Nwaneri.
The Hale Ender is primarily an attacking midfielder who spent a lot of final season on the fitting, incomes loads of reward, together with from Arteta, who acknowledged that {the teenager} “has the flexibility to take the ball in tight areas and to flee a bit bit like Jack Wilshere used to do.” Promising indicators, certainly.
That stated, he’s no stranger to taking part in as a 9. Throughout his time within the academy, he made eight appearances within the place, scoring 9 targets and offering two assists.
Nwaneri in 24/25 | |
|---|---|
Appearances | 37 |
Minutes | 1378′ |
Targets | 9 |
Assists | 2 |
Aim Involvements per Match | 0.29 |
Minutes per Aim Involvement | 125.27′ |
All Stats by way of Transfermarkt | |
Furthermore, in a press convention final season, Arteta stated that the teen “can play with no consideration winger and there may be one other place I believe he can grow to be – No9.”
It isn’t arduous to see why the supervisor would possibly assume that, as final season noticed the academy gem rating 9 targets and supply two assists in simply 1378 minutes, which is the type of return you’ll count on from a prime centre-forward.
Lastly, the rationale the “phenomenal” game-changer, as dubbed by former skilled Stephen Warnock, could possibly be the proper alternative for this recreation is his on-the-ball capacity.
Not like Merino, the 18-year-old has proven himself to be a proficient dribbler and somebody who can beat a defender with the ball at his ft, and because the Black Cats are prone to sit again, that could possibly be extremely helpful.
In the end, whereas the standard strategy could be to start out Merino instead of the injured Gyokeres, Arteta could be sensible to go along with Nwaneri as an alternative.
