Odegaard 's injury: Arsenal legend urges Arteta to give more minutes to talented midfielder Nwaneri

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has called on manager Mikel Arteta to provide more playing time to young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri following the team's recent performances, including a disappointing 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a narrow 1-0 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League. 

The Gunners faced criticism after their first Premier League defeat of the 2024/2025 season against Bournemouth, a match that highlighted the need for creativity in midfield, especially with captain Martin Ødegaard sidelined due to injury.

Despite the win over Shakhtar, Wright believes Nwaneri's skills could offer a much-needed spark to the squad.

Wright, who scored over 100 goals for Arsenal during his illustrious career, expressed his belief that Nwaneri should have started against Bournemouth.

He argued that the 17-year-old's ability to create chances could have made a difference in a game where the team struggled to break through the opposition.

"You know what I think with Odegaard missing as well. When I saw Merino, Partey. and Rice, I was thinking, listen, Nwaneri the youngster. Against Bournemouth, if you have got those two as a double pivot, whether it's Declan and Merino, I think you need somebody like Nwaneri - who can create something. Because I think that's what is majorly missing. Somebody needs to beat someone,” Wright said on the Stick to Football podcast.

Nwaneri has made a strong impression this season, notably scoring a brace in Arsenal's 5-1 victory over Bolton in the Carabao Cup. 

However, Arteta has been cautious with his usage, opting for a more rigid midfield setup in Ødegaard's absence.

Wright reiterated the importance of trusting Nwaneri, suggesting that the young midfielder could bring diversity and creativity to the Arsenal lineup.

“Probably against Bournemouth, I probably will have taken the chance on him, instead of having Partey, Declan, and Merino. I'd rather have Merino and Rice and Nwaneri playing - just be put that a little bit of something different,” he added.

Despite his limited playing time, Nwaneri has made a significant impact, contributing two goals in just four appearances across all competitions this season.

With just 108 minutes in the first team this season, fans would be eager to see if Arteta will heed Wright’s advice and give the talented youngster more opportunities in the first team.

Adeyemi Adewale

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