**Ethan Nwaneri has given Mikel Arteta another selection decision before Arsenal face Como after making an impressive impact against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.**
The 19-year-old was introduced at half-time during the 3-2 Emirates Cup defeat and needed only nine minutes to score. Christos Tzolis created the opening before Nwaneri found space inside the penalty area and finished to bring Arsenal back into the contest.
Nwaneri also converted the decisive kick when the two sides held a planned penalty shootout after full-time, completing an encouraging individual afternoon despite Arsenal’s defeat.
His performance comes at an important point in his summer.
Nwaneri started Arsenal’s friendly against Real Betis but was left out of the XI against Dortmund, with Martin Odegaard returning to Arteta’s midfield.
The teenager responded exactly as Arteta would have wanted.
As detailed in [ReadArsenal’s match report](https://readarsenal.com/2026/08/09/arsenal-2-3-dortmund-gyokeres-scores-but-gunners-beaten-in-emirates-cup/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), Arsenal carried more attacking threat after the interval and Nwaneri’s movement helped provide another option between Dortmund’s midfield and defence.
The London Standard also highlighted how Nwaneri took his opportunity while his Arsenal future remains uncertain. Competition has increased significantly this summer and another loan or permanent departure has previously been considered.
That makes Wednesday’s meeting with Como particularly interesting.
Nwaneri does not simply need minutes during the final weeks of pre-season. He needs to demonstrate that those minutes should come at Arsenal.
Arteta suddenly has far more senior options available.
Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi have returned to training, while Bruno Guimaraes has joined an already crowded midfield.
ReadArsenal has already examined [the competition created by Guimaraes’ £75million arrival](https://readarsenal.com/2026/08/08/six-stars-three-spots-how-bruno-guimaraes-created-mikel-artetas-ultimate-midfield-dilemma/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Rice, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Guimaraes, Merino and Eze can all compete centrally.
Nwaneri therefore has to force his way into the picture rather than wait for an opportunity.
Starting him against Como would be an obvious way for Arteta to find out whether Sunday’s performance can be repeated over a longer period. The Standard’s predicted Arsenal XI also has Nwaneri starting on Wednesday, potentially alongside Odegaard in an attacking role.
There is no need to make a final judgement based on one pre-season game, but Nwaneri could hardly have responded better to being left out against Dortmund.
Another strong performance on Wednesday would make Arteta’s decision over his role this season considerably more difficult.