Ethan Nwaneri played from the start for Arsenal as they downed Portsmouth, which was a rare outing for the teenager, as Mikel Arteta explained the options ahead of him are hampering his minutes
Ethan Nwaneri was handed a rare start on Sunday
Ethan Nwaneri was handed a rare start on Sunday(Image: )
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits Ethan Nwaneri "hasn't been able to play" because there are so many players ahead of him in the pecking order after he was handed a rare start at the weekend.
The teenage star played in the frontline as the Gunners recovered from conceding early to hammer Portsmouth and advance into the fourth round of the FA Cup. It was only Nwaneri's fourth start of the season - with none of those coming in the Premier League.
It is a huge drop from last term, where the winger started 11 times in the league, that owing in part to an injury crisis mid-season. Nevertheless, his position within the squad has been impact by the club's summer recruitment, which saw a number of quality players arrive.
Noni Madueke was signed from Chelsea before Eberechi Eze came in from Crystal Palace. They complimented the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, all of which leaves Nwaneri struggling for minutes, but Arteta was pleased to give him a run out.
He said after the win at Fratton Park: "He deserved that. Because of the strength of the squad and the players that are in the positions, he hasn't been able to play. Today he's done it, and I think he had some very good minutes."
Nwaneri's lack of minutes has led to talk of a temporary exit, which would aid his development. He, as well as Myles Lewis-Skelly, have not enjoyed the opportunities they did last term and Arsenal may be open to them heading out on loan. Bournemouth had been linked with a move following the exit of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.
It was only in the summer that Nwaneri signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates and talked up the opportunity for him to continue to develop and felt that his versatility would aid his chances of playing more regularly under Arteta.
Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have pushed the Arsenal teen down the pecking order
Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have pushed the Arsenal teen down the pecking order(Image: )
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After signing his contract, he said: “It means everything to me, I'm so happy to have got it done. This is where I feel at home, and where I’m going to develop the best. I'm ready.
“I’m very excited. I see this as my first real season, and part of a proper squad in the changing room. I'm so excited for what I can bring to the team and how I can help the team. I'm a very versatile player, so I think I'm going to play anywhere across the front five, and I’m ready to do what the manager needs.”
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