Micah Richards believes Mikel Arteta should consider moving 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri to the centre-forward position when Bukayo Saka returns to Arsenal.
Nwaneri shone in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City, setting up Mikel Merino for the first goal with an excellent cross. The teenager’s performances have been a lifeline for the crocked Gunners, who are missing Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Saka to lengthy injuries.
Arsenal were heavily criticised for not signing another attacker in the January transfer window, despite their injuries and lack of a traditional centre-forward. They have been previously linked with the likes of RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and Juventus hitman Dusan Vlahovic, but any interest is expected to be acted upon, if at all, in the summer transfer window.
Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Nwaneri made up the frontline on the weekend, but it was Merino, a defensive midfielder by trade, who scored both goals. As Arsenal fans agonise over their options up front, Richards thinks Nwaneri could be the answer to Arsenal’s striking problems.
When talking about Nwaneri on the Rest is Football podcast, Richards said: “He’s dazzling, isn’t he? The way he moves, his confidence, his left foot.
“I mean, we’ve eulogised about Saka many times, but he has really come to the fore at the right time. At 17 years of age, his technique, he was the best player on the pitch by far. All he was missing was a goal.”
When asked how Arteta could accommodate both Saka and Nwaneri, Richards added: “I would put him (Nwaneri) up front and put Saka on the right. How Arsenal play, they like players who can press and players who can link.
“He’s a talent. A real, real talent. I just hope that he doesn’t have any real bad injuries and keeps focussed, because Arsenal have got another one.”
Richards is not the only one who believes the England U19s international can be a threat down the middle. Arteta has previously flirted the idea of deploying Nwaneri as a striker.
Responding to a similar question, the Gunners’ boss said: “I think it’s [more about] when (he could become a striker). I think it’s in there as [a possibility] more than a necessity, is that real quality. He’s been playing as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing and I think it’s been really good in that position, so that’s fine.”
Nwaneri has scored two goals and contributed one assist in his last four Premier League matches. He also found the net in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Girona in their last Champions League clash.
The teenager will likely be used more often, as Saka is not expected to be back from injury until the end of March. The England international has not played since December 21, when the Gunners destroyed Crystal Palace 5-1.
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