Arsenal legend Ian Wright has urged coach Mikel Arteta to take a chance on youngster Ethan Nwaneri by benching Ghana’s Thomas Partey for the teenager in their game against Liverpool on Sunday, October 27, 2024.
The Gunners host Liverpool at the Emirates in a game where the result will have a significant impact on their chase for the 2024/2025 Premier League title.
In the absence of skipper Martin Odegaard, who has been out with a long-term injury, Arsenal have found it difficult to control games, and Ian Wright believes 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri is key to tilting the game in favor of the Gunners.
Making his submissions based on Arsenal’s game against Bournemouth, Ian Wright suggested to Mikel Arteta to consider a midfield trio of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Ethan Nwaneri.
“When I saw [Mikel] Merino, [Thomas] Partey, and [Declan] Rice – I was thinking [Ethan] Nwaneri, the youngster,” said Wright on the Stick to Football podcast.
“Against Bournemouth, you need someone who can do something [in the middle] and create something, because that’s what was majorly missing. We needed someone to beat someone with the ball – I would have taken a chance on him – I would have had Merino, Rice, and Nwaneri playing in there [the number 10], to have something different.”
The recommendation by Ian Wright is expected to divide opinions among Arsenal fans as Thomas Partey has been one of their key players in recent games.
In their UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Thomas Partey emerged as one of Arsenal’s standout players.
Partey, who started in midfield but ended at right back, was incredible for the team as he kept pulling the strings for Arsenal.
Defensively, he won two out of four tackles, made two clearances, one interception, and four successful recoveries.
In attack, the 30-year-old Ghanaian had 91 touches, completed 13 passes into the final third, and was not dribbled past for the entire duration of the game.