Mikel Arteta promised Nwaneri game time regardless of whether Arsenal had signed another attacker and it seems like the Englishman is giving his manager every reason to back him.
While the injuries to crucial attacking players such as Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are devastating for the Gunners, the youngster is showing that he is ready to step in the wake of their absences.
As Mikel Merino was quizzed about his thoughts on Nwaneri after his match-winning cameo against Leicester, the Arsenal midfielder heaped praise on his teammate and revealed that he has always advised the young technician to cross the ball into him.
Merino told TNT Sports: “Yes, he’s an amazing player, every time I do an interview, you guys ask me for him but it’s natural because he’s such a talent. Luckily for him, today he crossed the ball, I’ve been talking to him the whole season that I needed those kinds of balls when I’m arriving inside the box. And he has such a wonderful left foot that he put it right on my head and I could only score.”
Nwaneri will appreciate Merino’s praise and it is telling that he is an avid listener by how he took the former Real Sociedad dynamo’s advice and found him in space with a brilliant cross for the first goal.
Mikel Arteta has highlighted Nwaneri’s versatility and that was on display against Leicester as he impressed as a right-winger despite being a natural number 10; all signs that emphasise how mature he is.
Arsenal’s number 53 has plenty of admirers within the first-team and it is wonderful to see him live up to the lofty expectations.
