Arsenal FC: Ethan Nwaneri, Martin Odegaard ‘gamble’ and Mikel Arteta’s options to solve issues for Chelsea
Another defeat, another blank in front of goal and Mikel Arteta has plenty to ponder as he tries to rouse his Arsenal side for their trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
Many of Arteta’s players looked dead on their feet after the full-time whistle of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Inter, perhaps emotionally as well as physically drained.
Arsenal are in a slump. They have lost three of their last six games and in that time they have scored just six goals. Three of those were against Preston in the Carabao Cup, one was a set-piece and another was an own goal.
The pressure is on Arsenal as they head to Stamford Bridge and they could be 10 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool by the time kick-off if Arne Slot’s side beat Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.
Here, Standard Sport looks at what options are available to Arteta as he tries to spark Arsenal’s attack into life…
Much is expected of Ethan Nwaneri
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Show faith in Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal had 20 shots against Inter, which is the most they have managed in a Champions League match without scoring since 2006.
One of their final attempts came from Ethan Nwaneri, who skipped past a defender on the edge of the box before firing over the bar. It was part of a bright cameo by the midfielder, who came on for the final eight minutes, and the case for him to get more action continues to grow.
Arteta has, rightly, been careful in blooding Nwaneri. The challenge of filling Martin Odegaard’s shoes is great, let alone for someone who is only 17 years old.
But Nwaneri has impressed whenever he has been given the chance to shine. He has scored three goals in his two starts this season, including one in the 3-0 win at Preston last month.
Crucially, starting Nwaneri over Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard, would allow Arsenal to revert back to their usual 4-3-3 formation.
In the absence of Odegaard, Arsenal have shifted to a more functional 4-4-2 and they have lacked creativity. Against Preston, with Nwaneri deployed as one of two No8s in a 4-3-3, Arsenal looked much more like the attacking force they were last season – albeit against weaker opposition.
It would be a bold call by Arteta to trust Nwaneri in a huge at Chelsea, but playing him alongside experienced players like Declan Rice and Thomas Partey will help. And, as Arteta has said on more than one occasion in the past few months, Nwaneri is “ready” for more.
Gabriel Jesus has struggled as a striker
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Trailing at half-time to Inter, Arteta threw on Gabriel Jesus and Arsenal improved after the break.
Inter defender Denzel Dumfries was forced to clear a header off the line, while Kai Havertz was denied by a stunning save from Yann Sommer and a brilliant block by Yann Bisseck. It was Jesus who found Havertz for his effort that was blocked by Bisseck and the Brazilian injected some energy into Arsenal’s play.
Trossard, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, was the player hooked for Jesus and Arteta will be tempted to start him on Sunday. The Brazilian allows Arsenal to stick with their recent 4-4-2 formation, but he brings more movement and makes the system more fluid. Jesus popped up on the left, right and centrally against Inter.
It has been a difficult year for the striker, whose goal against Preston last month was his first for Arsenal since January. Injuries have dogged him in that time, while Havertz has also emerged as Arsenal’s first-choice No9.
Jesus, however, can still have a role to play and he brings a wealth of experience, which feels valuable at a time when Arsenal are short on confidence.
Captain Martin Odegaard against Inter played his first minutes since August
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It would be a huge roll of the dice, but Arteta must be tempted to start Odegaard against Chelsea.
Arsenal have struggled to create without their captain, who came off the bench for the final few minutes against Inter to make his first appearance for the Gunners since August.
Odegaard is itching to play, but Tuesday was his first full training session after injuring his ankle playing for Norway at the start of September. The midfielder will get two more sessions under his belt before the game at Stamford Bridge – on Friday and Saturday – but starting him would still represent a massive gamble.
That, however, sums up where Arsenal are right now. Defeat to Inter was not too damaging in the new Champions League format, but a loss at Chelsea would be a hammer blow to their title hopes.
As Arsenal’s dip in form has shown, Odegaard is the player who makes them tick and he could reignite a midfield that has looked increasingly workmanlike in recent weeks.
It would also get more out of Bukayo Saka, with the pair’s understanding on the right key to how Arsenal attack. Saka has carried the attack in Odegaard’s absence, but even he has struggled recently and would welcome Arsenal’s captain returning sooner rather than later.
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