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Arsenal have lost ground in the Premier League title race and Mikel Arteta is under pressure to fend off Manchester City
Ethan Nwaneri was looking forward to taking on a greater role when he signed a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium in the summer, but Mikel Arteta has been reluctant to give him an opportunity. Meanwhile, the Arsenal boss has given others an easy ride – and now he's under pressure to find an answer...
The 18-year-old midfielder has been an unused substitute in each of the Gunners' last three games in the Premier League, raising questions about his future in north London. In fact, Nwaneri has only featured 10 times across all competitions this season, playing less than 500 minutes.
And nearly half of which have come in the third and fourth rounds of the Carabao Cup. The England Under-21 international looked set for a key role in the first team at the start of the campaign, yet he's only taken on an additional 161 minutes of responsibility compared to last term.
The cracks first appeared when Arteta revealed that Nwaneri asked for more game time. At the end of last month, the Hale End graduate was one of several players to take part in a behind-closed-doors friendly, alongside Gabriel Jesus.
"Yeah, it did happen, so Gabi participated, Ethan as well, because he wanted some minutes, so we took that opportunity," said the Arsenal boss. "It was for the players that needed a bit of exposure and competition to provide that to them, and it was very positive."
In the matches that followed, against Chelsea, Brentford, and Aston Villa, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke were given a combined 251 minutes of game time. The duo, who cost Arsenal almost £120m in the summer, failed to impress in either of the three games; meanwhile, Nwaneri watched on from the dugout.
Arteta has paid the price of his perseverance, and now the north Londoners have squandered their healthy lead in the title race. While Arsenal lost to Aston Villa, Manchester City stormed past Sunderland to go within a couple of points of first place.
The Gunners are under pressure to turn things around, but fortunately, they've got the 'next Lionel Messi' itching to make his mark. Nwaneri could give Arteta's side a new lease of life during the festive period.
Not only could the teenager provide cover for Bukayo Saka and Madueke on the right, but he could also take some weight off Eze's shoulders. The Arsenal boss knows just how good Nwaneri is – he just needs to take a leap of faith.
"He came on the other day as well, and he's going to have those chances, and when he has, he needs to make the most out of it," said Arteta, following the Gunners' 2-0 win over Brighton at the end of October. "I think he took the goal really, really well.
"He had some actions, some of them, they weren't that effective. But what I liked is that he kept trying and taking risks, and he didn't change that behaviour and determination to make things happen, and at the end, he got rewarded with a brilliant goal."
Joe Cole was very complimentary of Nwaneri back in February. Speaking on TNT Sports after the youngster bagged an assist in 2-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, the Chelsea icon said: "These little touches in and around the box - I don't even want to say it, but it's like Lionel Messi.
"I don't want to put any more pressure on him, but the touches off the back foot entices the defender, then the touch off the toe to send him off balance. He plays with such confidence, a beautiful player.
"Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have to protect him..."
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