Mikel Arteta drops strong hint on Ethan Nwaneri’s chances of playing against Tottenham

James GoldmanPublished Sep 13, 2024, 3:53pm|Updated Sep 13, 2024, 3:54pm

Mikel Arteta has hinted helium is prepared to thrust Ethan Nwaneri into the vigor of Sunday’s northbound London derby conflict against Tottenham.

The teen became the Premier League’s youngest ever player erstwhile helium made his elder debut arsenic a precocious substitute against Brentford astir 2 years ago.

Nwaneri has continued his progression successful Arsenal’s younker teams and earlier this twelvemonth ended speculation implicit his aboriginal by signing a caller semipermanent contract, despite Chelsea and Manchester City attempting to prise him from northbound London.

The 17-year-old impressed during Arsenal’s pre-season circuit of America successful the summertime and is acceptable to go a afloat fledged portion of Arteta’s archetypal squad squad.

Injuries to Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, allied to Declan Rice’s suspension, mean the Arsenal brag is without 3 cardinal midfielders for Sunday’s showdown but helium suggested helium would person small hesitation offering a accidental to Nwaneri.

‘We person to accommodate to [changes successful the team], passim the play we’re going to person these benignant of situations,’ erstwhile asked if Nwaneri was apt to feature.

‘It happened precise early, since the 2nd crippled due to the fact that erstwhile you look astatine the seat that we had against Brighton, it’s precise antithetic to the 1 that we astir apt would person expected.

‘It’s the concern that we have, we person to look it, usage the opportunities – the young kids person fixed america a batch of anticipation and close reasons arsenic good to number connected them, and we request to bash it for sure.’

Arsenal fto the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira, 2 earthy replacements for Odegaard, spell successful the summertime but Arteta insists helium has nary regrets and is contented with the size of squad helium has to take from.

‘It tin beryllium bigger, yes, but we person definite limitations that we cognize about,’ helium said. ‘We person to bash definite things, definite transactions and definite players person been with america for a agelong clip and they needed a caller situation successful their career.

‘We person signed a fewer players, it’s been a spot antithetic to the erstwhile years, but I’m truly blessed with the prime of the squad. There are definite things that we cannot power and what happened successful the past 2 weeks is highly unlucky.

‘We person to look it, but hopefully during the play it volition beryllium precise different.’

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