The possibility looms that Anglo-Nigerian starlet, Ethan Nwaneri, may be called upon as Arsenal prepares to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, amid a growing list of injury concerns within the Gunners' ranks.
Mikel Arteta likely envisioned heading into the North London derby with a formidable midfield trio of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino. However, the Arsenal manager grapples with a selection dilemma as injuries and suspensions cast a shadow over those plans ahead of the clash against Tottenham on September 15.
With Rice already ruled out due to suspension and Merino nursing a shoulder injury, Arteta now faces the unsettling prospect of being without Odegaard as well.
While the Arsenal captain had initially shaken off a minor knock to represent Norway in the Nations League, a new ankle injury sustained during their match against Austria has raised alarm bells.
Odegaard's misfortune could be Ethan Nwaneri's gain
As Arsenal’s midfield options dwindle, Arteta might be forced to turn to a young star waiting in the wings—Ethan Nwaneri. The 17-year-old midfielder, eligible to represent Nigeria through his Igbo heritage, has already made history as the youngest Premier League player during Arsenal’s win over Brentford during the 2022/2023 season.
Nwaneri has been a standout in Arsenal’s Hale End academy, tallying 11 goals and three assists in just 15 games for the U21s last season. His impressive form hasn’t gone unnoticed, and he has been on the bench for all three of Arsenal's Premier League matches this term.
Ethan Nwaneri has already made a name for himself as a promising talent in England’s youth ranks. The Arsenal starlet has featured prominently in both the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup..
However, despite his involvement in the England youth setup, Nwaneri still has the option to follow in the footsteps of Nigerian star Alex Iwobi, who represented England at youth level before opting to play for the Super Eagles.
Nwaneri is of Nigerian descent, and should he choose to represent Nigeria, he could add to the growing list of dual-national talents selecting the African powerhouse.
