Ian Wright has revealed one Arsenal star Mikel Arteta needs to start giving more minutes as the Gunners legend singled out what was ‘majorly missing’ from their defeat to Bournemouth.
As one of the early Premier League favorites going into the season, Arsenal were predicted to fight till the end in what was perceived as a two-horse competition with Manchester City for the third consecutive season.
However, Liverpool, who have been leading since the Arne Slot era began, will play the Gunners next on Sunday as Arsenal faltered in a 2-0 loss at the Vitality Stadium due to some recent setbacks in their form.
Questions have been raised about Arteta’s team selection. Specifically regarding individuals who are being left out, following the team’s incredibly lackluster 1-0 Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the middle of the week.
“When I saw [Mikel] Merino, [Thomas] Partey and [Declan] Rice – I was thinking [Ethan] Nwaneri, the youngster,” said Wright, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, as echoed by Daily Mail.
“Against Bournemouth, you need someone who can do something [in the middle] and create something, because that’s what was majorly missing.
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“We needed someone to beat someone with the ball – I would have taken a chance on him – I would have had Merino, Rice and Nwaneri playing in there [the No 10], to have something different.”
Many people believe that Nwaneri is among the best players to emerge from the Gunners’ Hale End academy since players like Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.
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