Ethan Nwaneri has played just 10 times for Arsenal this season after signing a new contract at the Emirates Stadium in the summer transfer window
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been criticised for refusing to hand Ethan Nwaneri more minutes after he was named on the bench in Wednesday night’s Champions League win over Club Brugge.
The Gunners boss made five changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Aston Villa with a new-look forward line starting in Belgium. Viktor Gyokeres replaced Mikel Merino at centre-forward with Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke coming in for Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze.
Despite the changes in attack, Arteta decided against using Nwaneri. The 18-year-old has started just three games this season, two in the EFL Cup and one in the Champions League.
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He was named on the bench for the trip to Brugge and the decision left many in the Arsenal fanbase questioning why he had not been handed a rare start. Venting their questions on X, formerly Twitter, one fan wrote: “When is Ethan Nwaneri gonna play if you won’t play him in a game like this?”.
Another added: “Trying to work out what this manager is planning with Ethan Nwaneri. He’s not playing him in the odd game, despite the ongoing injury crisis, tight game-states where we end up dropping points anyway, and rate of games he [Arteta] complains about.”
“Ethan Nwaneri will definitely force a move away from the club in January and I think he will be justified to do so,” one frustrated fan added. “There’s no need for Merino and Zubimendi to start this game tonight but we all know how cowed Mikel Arteta is when it comes to rotating the players.”
Nwaneri signed a new long-term contract in north London in the summer after doubts emerged about his place in the Arsenal team. The academy product has featured just 10 times across all competitions, playing less than 500 minutes.
He did come on against Club Brugge in the 70th minute, with the Gunners 3-0 up. Noni Madueke netted two goals either side of half-time before Gabriel Martinelli curled in a superb third.
The appearance was his 50th for the club and his first minutes since he came off the bench in the 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the second half. When he came off the bench, fans on social media urged him to show Arteta what he is capable of.
“Finally, Nwaneri is on. Ethan, show the gaffer what you’re about, lad,” one wrote. “Would love a Nwaneri goal, show the boss what he’s forgetting.”
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