A good 4-1 win over Leverkusen at the Emirates this evening. Good performances by Trossard (goal), Havertz (goal and 2 assists), Jesus (goal). Solid defensive showing, Zinchenko also netting from a great strike. 4 youngsters also got game time. 17 year olds Ayden Heaven, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis Skelly and 18 year old Josh Nichols all appeared in the second half and all looked comfortable.
Mikel Arteta will need to find a way to give both Nwaneri and MLS senior game time this season. Both are ready to play a part. They should both definitely play the league cup game(s), regardless of the opposition. If he can also give some minutes in the PL and CL even better.
Nwaneri has shown his class in pre-season, his quality creating the 4th goal. With Emile Smith Rowe leaving and Reiss Nelson probably going, there should be opportunities for Ethan in either a central or wide role with Fabio Vieira his obvious rival.
MLS may find it harder. A midfielder who in the last 12 months has been developed into the inverted left back role. He finds many alternatives ahead of him - Zinchenko, Calafiori, Timber, Tomiyasu and potentially Kiwior too at LB and Partey, Jorginho, Rice in midfield before considering any new signing who may come. Such is our workload, though, there should be opportunities to blood him. A loan could be an alternative, with MLS turning 18 next month, although that may be a January thing.
As it stands we have a rather small squad, so these two supplementing it will help push for the big titles. Hopefully Arteta can get them enough time, and they can prove themselves.
Emirates Cup this weekend, a chance to get a major trophy under our belt before the season starts. Ainsley Maitland-Niles should be coming home for that, although Lacazette won't be part of the Lyon squad given his Olympic duties.
Nwaneri and MLS...
posted on 7/8/24
Arteta seems to like MLS, no chance of him going back to midfield?
posted on 7/8/24
comment by Passion Power - Make 1984 fiction again (U8398)
posted 26 seconds ago
Arteta seems to like MLS, no chance of him going back to midfield?
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Every chance.
posted on 7/8/24
Arteta needs to find a way to score more points than Man City to win the league, and be as successful as possible in the CL and cups.
If MLS and Nwaneri prove to be good enough to help us do that then they will get game time. If they don't, they won't. Its as simple as that.
posted on 7/8/24
comment by Romeo Golf Kilo (U22964)
posted 17 seconds ago
Arteta needs to find a way to score more points than Man City to win the league, and be as successful as possible in the CL and cups.
If MLS and Nwaneri prove to be good enough to help us do that then they will get game time. If they don't, they won't. Its as simple as that.
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The way to do that is to use your squad properly and not rely on a core 14 across all competitions.
Neglecting the squad is a big reason the last 3 seasons have ended in failure.
posted on 8/8/24
Nwaneri is the one that gets all the hype, and rightly so as he's fantastic.
But MLS is right there with him. His strength is exceptional for his age, he plays like a grown man. The way he shields the ball, the way he battles. He can carry the ball and passes it very well too.
Really looking forward to seeing how they integrate into the first team this season.
posted on 8/8/24
comment by Tu Meke (U3732)
posted 12 hours, 26 minutes ago
Nwaneri is the one that gets all the hype, and rightly so as he's fantastic.
But MLS is right there with him. His strength is exceptional for his age, he plays like a grown man. The way he shields the ball, the way he battles. He can carry the ball and passes it very well too.
Really looking forward to seeing how they integrate into the first team this season.
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People are saying he is the more Partey like player than anyone else.