Jamie Carragher urges Mikel Arteta to make huge Arsenal role change after Ethan Nwaneri decision

Jamie Carragher has suggested a key Arsenal star undergo a major role change after his impact in the Premier League win over Newcastle United at St James' Park. Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes sealed the visitors' comeback with headed goals after Nick Woltemade's first-half opener.

Seven days on from the clash against Manchester City, Mikel Arteta's side found themselves in a very similar position but his changes personnel and tactical changes were different this time.

The players available and already on the pitch played a role in that but as the Gunners pushed for an equaliser, Arteta had no recognised left-back. That saw Gabriel cover a hybrid role as part of a back three with four midfielders in front of him, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.

Carragher has since provided a detailed analysis on the formation and the crucial role played by Arsenal captain Martin Odgegaard.

"In terms of the set up, what was really interesting was that Odegaard found himself deeper after [Martin] Zubimendi came off," he said on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

"He went into that deeper role, he was fantastic and changed the game. In the build up to the first goal, Declan Rice is clever but he [Odegaard] is pulling the strings."

Later on in his examination of Arsenal's two goals, he said: "I want to go back to this man, Martin Odegaard, who I think changed the game when he came on. He knows a pass from Declan Rice is coming so he is already scanning where he can hurt Newcastle.

"He's seen that space between the two Newcastle defenders and that is absolutely where his pass goes, can he thread the eye of the needle? Yes [he can]. Myles Lewis-Skelly has made that run."

Injury has disrupted the Norwegian's 2025/26 campaign thus far, but Arteta has had the options to deal with his absence. This past weekend, Eberechi Eze was deployed in a central position for the first time since joining from Crystal Palace in the summer.

In the two games where Odegaard has been forced off with a shoulder injury, Ethan Nwaneri has come on as his replacement. The Hale End graduate broke into the first-team off the right but is now considered to be a midfielder by Arteta.

The Athletic reporter @gunnerblog has since explained why that decision was made: “Everything I heard towards the end of last season suggested that Arsenal felt that Ethan Nwaneri hit a bit of a wall in his wide development and performance.

"They felt defenders were wise to what he was trying to do and he’d be better served by being central.” That is certainly an interesting stance to take given he had only had one season in the senior team but it would explain the signing of Noni Madueke.

However, it could mean his minutes are reduced with Odegaard and Eze competing for the same role, though the former could thrive in a deeper position as shown on Sunday and highlighted by Carragher.

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