The present ambiance surrounding Arsenal is irregular.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect have performed within the Premier League, League Cup and Champions League.
Moreover, they achieve this amid an harm disaster, with out signing Victor Gokeres in the summertime, and with an aggressive assault.
Fortuitously, there are methods by which Arteta can cope with the Swede’s absence for this weekend’s recreation towards Sunderland, even with accidents aplenty.
Arsenal’s gokerless answer
A technique for Arteta to unravel the issue of Gokeres’ absence is to maneuver Leandro Trossard from the wing to the centre.
The Belgian is at the moment in prime kind, contributing to seven objectives in 13 video games and, as Ian Wright factors out, is arguably the membership’s “greatest finisher”.
Nonetheless, having the 30-year-old play up entrance weakens the left flank, particularly with Gabriel Martinelli out and Ebelesi Eze enjoying within the middle of the park.
One other, and bolder, answer may very well be to provide Andre Harriman-Anous his first league begin for the membership, though he didn’t begin towards Brighton.
The 17-year-old made harmful runs, picked up house and confirmed the next talent stage than many anticipated.
Nonetheless, it’s way more possible that Arteta will begin Mikel Merino as quantity 9.
In spite of everything, the Spaniard has proven nice decisiveness over the previous yr or so, scoring twice towards Slavia Prague that week.
Nonetheless, there’s an alternative choice. It is a bit daring, however may very well be significantly efficient towards Sunderland.
Arteta’s shock answer to Gokeres’ harm
It’s now very possible that Arteta will select to begin Merino on Saturday, however there are a number of explanation why he ought to think about handing over the uncommon prime beginning spot to Ethan Nwaneri.
Hale-Ender is primarily an attacking midfielder, enjoying most of final season on the best wing and receiving a lot reward. Arteta mentioned {the teenager} “has the power to win the ball in tight areas and run away a bit, like Jack Wilshere used to do.” Definitely, there are encouraging indicators.
Nonetheless, he isn’t used to enjoying as a 9. Throughout his time on the academy, he performed eight video games on this place, scoring 9 objectives and offering two assists.
Girls working 24/25 hours | |
|---|---|
Look | 37 |
minutes | 1378′ |
the aim | 9 |
help | 2 |
Variety of objectives concerned per match | 0.29 |
Hours per aim involvement | 125.27′ |
All stats by way of Transfermarkt | |
Moreover, Arteta mentioned in a press convention final season that the teen “may also play for granted winger and there’s one other place the place I believe he can develop, which is the quantity 9.”
It isn’t exhausting to see why the supervisor thinks so, because the academy gem scored 9 objectives and supplied two assists in simply 1,378 minutes final season, the type of efficiency you’d count on from a prime centre-forward.
Lastly, it is his on-the-ball skill that makes the “phenomenal” game-changer described by former professional Stephen Warnock the proper choice for this recreation.
Not like Merino, the 18-year-old has confirmed to be a gifted dribbler and somebody who can beat defenders with the ball at his ft, which may very well be extremely helpful because the Black Cats are more likely to be sitting on their fingers.
In spite of everything, whereas the standard strategy would have been to begin Merino rather than the injured Gokeres, Arteta could also be clever to begin Nwaneri as an alternative.
