Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed he will continue to try to fill gaps in his senior squad by promoting academy talent rather than looking to transfer market.
With star striker Bukayo Saka he is waiting for up to three months on the sidelines after knee surgery, Arteta selected 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, a natural midfielder, to help in defence. 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, another natural midfielder, has been dazzling at left-back in recent weeks.
Asked whether he would stick with his current options or turn to the transfer market, Arteta insisted he would always try to work with his squad before trying to recruit new players.
“The focus is on the players we have,” said the Spanish coach. “If there is something outstanding on the market that we can afford and we believe will have a real impact on the team, we always have to be open to that possibility, because that’s why we have the ability to change the team, improve the team in the windows. Right now the focus is on what we have.”
Arteta continued: “The first thing we want to do is look at the academy. Can we get what we want from the academy? That’s option number one.
“If we don’t have him there, then we have to look elsewhere, or we have to develop our players in different positions, or maybe we have to go out into the market and recruit. [Nwaneri and Myles-Skelly] they play because they deserve to play, not because of injuries. We had opportunities to play with other players and they play because they deserve to play.”
On Nwaneri, who impressed his full Premier League debut against Brentford in midweek, Arteta hailed the teenager’s versatility to help in a position where he has very little experience.
“He is a player who can play in various positions,” Arteta said. “It’s not a position he’s played a lot, to be fair, even when he was in the academy, but he can adapt to the requirements we have in two or three positions.”
Gabriel Martinelli also moved from left wing to ArsenalHe has the right to help fill the void left by Saka and Arteta has admitted there will come a time when the Brazilian will be more suited to the game than Nwaneri.
“I said it the first day Bukayo got injured, I think it will always be like that [assessing] a lot of different options,” he continued. “With the amount of games we have, there’s not a single player who can play nine games in a row in that position. It’s impossible.
“We will look at that and look at the opponent, the way they defend, the way they take up space, whether they are on their natural feet or on their reverse feet. We need more threat, more fit players, more rotation in that unit. , we will make decisions and also the performance of the players.
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