REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Arsenal are counting the cost of allowing one too many wingers to leave the club as they contemplate having to start a 16-year-old against Everton this weekend, and out of necessity. That 16-year-old is Max Dowman, and while he is clearly a brilliant talent who could become a starter for the Gunners for years to come, he should not already be Mikel Arteta's best option going into the eighth game of the Premier League season.
The situation has come about because Bukayo Saka has picked up an injury that will almost certainly rule him out this weekend. Saka came off within nine minutes during Wednesday night's draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and his replacement, Ebereche Eze, found the net.
Eze has struggled for form this season, but his goal against Bayern, which was very well-taken, likely lines him up for a start against Everton this weekend. But as for the other side, Noni Madueke could well be dropped, even after scoring the winner against Nottingham Forest over the weekend. Madueke started on the left and was shifted to the right, but he was equally as bad on both sides, struggling to create any kind of danger with or without the ball.
Madueke's poor night in Bavaria
Shots: 1
Shots on target: 0
Dribbles: 3
Dispossessed: 2
Pass success: 94.4%
Key passes: 1
In fact, of the three dribbles he managed, he was dispossessed twice, also taking three unsuccessful touches during the game. He did provide one key pass, but that was as good as it got for the winger, who has been painfully inconsistent for the Gunners since his big-money arrival from Chelsea.
Arsenal made a mistake with their winger dealings
Reuters/Hannah McKay
Madueke's poor form could mean young Dowman comes in for a start this weekend, unless Arteta gives Madueke even more rope to fail with. But while Dowman is a real talent who can offer the Gunners something, there should be more senior options.
How Arsenal went into the summer looking to strengthen on the left and ended up getting weaker is beggars belief. They allowed Gabriel Martinelli to leave after replacing Leandro Trossard with Christos Tzolis, and that was already one too many departures on the left.
They also sent Ethan Nwaneri out on loan to Borussia Dortmund when he could have been kept around as an additional option for a wingers' department that is seriously lacking in depth, especially for a team that wants to win multiple trophies like Arsenal.
The Gunners could address the issue in January, but their options will be limited, and they will pay more to address the issue, likely having to settle for a temporary solution. The big question is how much will it cost Arsenal between now and January? And they had better hope the Saka injury isn't serious, or they will truly find themselves ruing the departure of Nwaneri.
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka