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Jermaine Pennant recommends Mikel Arteta play Ethan Nwaneri in a central role to boost Arsenal’s attacking momentum.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has faced mounting pressure to address the club’s attacking struggles. With injuries to key players like Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners have found themselves lacking firepower upfront. As a result, Arteta has been experimenting with different options to reignite Arsenal’s attacking thrust.
One of the more unconventional moves has been deploying Mikel Merino, typically a central midfielder, as a striker. While Merino’s goalscoring cameo against Leicester City provided a temporary solution, his subsequent performances have failed to deliver the same attacking threat. This has led to calls for Arteta to consider alternative options.
Former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant has been vocal in his support for a more daring approach. Pennant believes that 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Emirates, should be given a central role in the attack. Nwaneri has already notched up seven goals in all competitions and has shown remarkable flair and pace.
Pennant argues that Nwaneri’s ability to run at defenders and create opportunities makes him a more suitable option than Merino. “He’s got the pace to get in behind and that trickery that a defensive midfielder in Mikel Merino is going to offer you,” Pennant said. “For me, I would play someone with a bit more flair and pace who likes to run at defenders”
Arteta, however, remains cautious about making drastic changes. He has emphasized the importance of fitting the qualities of the squad within the context of each game. “In the end, it’s about putting players in positions and roles and surrounded by players that we believe make sense and it can work and they are comfortable there,” Arteta explained.
As Arsenal prepares for their Champions League last-16 first leg against PSV Eindhoven, the pressure is on Arteta to find a solution to their striking woes. Whether he opts for the fearless Nwaneri or continues to experiment with Merino, the coming days will be crucial in determining the Gunners’ fate in both domestic and European competitions.
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