Despite joining up late for Arsenal pre-season, Mikel Arteta opted to start Ethan Nwaneri immediately against AC Milan.
Arsenal kicked off their pre-season fixtures against the famous Italian side in Singapore, and Mikel Arteta named a very strong team from the start.
Ethan Nwaneri was in the Martin Odegaard role on the right of the midfield, with new signing Christian Norgaard as the six, and Declan Rice as the left-sided eight.
Rice was marauding around the middle of the park in familiar fashion for Arsenal, and as the first half went on, Nwaneri really started to find his feet as well.
And after skinning AC Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic by the left touchline in the 20th minute, Nwaneri then sprung into life.
Ethan Nwaneri stars for Arsenal against AC Milan in pre-season friendly
Nwaneri was causing a ton of problems for AC Milan and he called goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano into a very good save after a very sharp turn.
And if Nwaneri’s 45 minutes were an audition to replace Odegaard next season, he would have got the job.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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Of course, that’s not necessarily why Arteta gave Nwaneri a chance from the start — he’ll still be counting on his club captain to start the vast majority of games next season.
But following TBR Football sharing that Arteta assured Nwaneri he’ll get chances as a 10 in recent contract talks, the Spaniard might have a big problem on his hands, albeit quite a positive one.
Nwaneri proved in his minutes against Milan that he’s simply too good to be a substitute for Arsenal, even if he is only 18 years old.
As Arsene Wenger has said about Nwaneri before, he’s a special, special talent, and Arteta somehow needs to find a way to start both him and Odegaard, if that’s even possible in the same team.
Ben White also makes a real statement to Mikel Arteta against AC Milan
In addition to Nwaneri on the right of Arsenal’s midfield three, Ben White was excellent at right-back against Milan.
Some now feel as if White has lost his starting spot to Jurrien Timber when everyone is fit.
White missed a large chunk of last season owing to injury, and Timber really stepped up whilst the England international was missing.
Therefore, White will need to fight for his spot at Arsenal, and on first viewing in pre-season, he looks very well-equipped to do so.
Clearly there are a ton of positive problems for Arteta right now, even if he might also endure some sleepless nights over the season debating some tough selection calls.