Nwaneri shows he is ready to step in for Odegaard with Bolton display | OneFootball

Ethan Nwaneri scored two goals on his first start for Arsenal in their 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Bolton, and in doing so showed he is ready for more game time in the absence of captain Martin Odegaard.

Nwaneri became the youngest ever player to play in the Premier League at just 15-years-old in September 2022 when he came on as a substitute against Brentford, and has since been regularly involved in first-team squads.

But this season looks set to be the 17-year-old’s breakout campaign. He has been involved in each of Mikel Arteta’s Premier League matchday squads this season and came off the bench late on in the win over Tottenham.

And with Odegaard set to miss at least the next few weeks with an ankle injury, and new signing Mikel Merino also out, Nwaneri has shown he is the answer to providing at least some of the minutes they would have done.

He showed great desire to get his first of the game against Bolton, surging into the box to slide in and finish Raheem Sterling’s cross and his confidence was on show again for his second when Arsenal pinched the ball high up, finishing via a deflection off the goalkeeper when he had other, more experienced team-mates alongside him instead.

Nwaneri might only be 17 but he has the physicality and athleticism to compete in the Premier League. He still has plenty of developing to do but possesses the creativity and quality that Arsenal will be lacking in the absence of Odegaard.

Against Man City, Arsenal opted for Declan Rice and Thomas Partey in midfield with Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz playing further forward, until the former was sent off, and played Jorginho and Partey together in the win over Spurs, with Rice suspended.

Arteta has options to deal with Odegaard’s absence. Perhaps the most obvious being playing Jorginho as the deeper midfielder with Partey and Rice alongside him, with Rice given licence to go further forward.

But while that midfield might provide experience and defensive solidity, it lacks the attacking dynamism that someone like Nwaneri would provide. Havertz has already proven he is much better in the striker role, and while Trossard can play deeper he too is better out wide and further forward where he can impact the game.

Speaking about Nwaneri after the win over Bolton, Arteta said: “He’s improving daily. They really respect him. You can tell he’s playing without pressure, with confidence, with a way of making decisions that tells you that the boy is ready at this level. Today he had a really strong performance and I’m happy to see that.”

And with Arsenal playing a struggling Leicester side on Saturday, it represents the perfect opportunity for Arteta to capitalise on Nwaneri’s outstanding first start for the club and keep him in the team.

He will need time and not too many conclusions can be drawn from playing League One opposition, but it feels like the perfect time for Arteta to show faith in one of the club’s most promising youngsters of recent years.

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