Arteta must bravely ditch Nwaneri and unleash Arsenal’s “lethal” star instead

Arsenal are one of the best teams in Premier Leaguewith enough quality that you can take advantage of Manchester Cityfall and win their first title in two decades.

However, injuries have been a key factor in the stumbling in results this term, and with Liverpool flying so high at the top of the table, Mikel Arteta knows that the emphasized form should be maintained throughout the new year.

To be fair, the Gunners started the New Year with a bang, playing hard Brentford in their own backyard to move within six points of the league leaders, and now, against Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal must extend their winning streak away from home.

Brighton have started on a strong footing under 31-year-old manager Fabian Hürzeler but have failed to win any of their last seven matches, dropping to tenth place, 12 points behind Arsenal.

Arsenal could have a number of key absentees but Arteta will be confident his side can build on their promising form against the Seagulls, having lost one of their last five games in all competitions and avoiding defeat in each of their previous four visits to the AMEX.

Arsenal team news

Jurrien Timber joins his teammates on the sidelines as he serves a one-match ban, meaning yes Thomas Partey likely to return to right back as Ben White he is working on his comeback from injury at the end of January.

Further along the field, Kai Havertz however, he will be looking to regain his starting presence in the team after overcoming illness Bukayo Saka of course still out for a long time.

Raheem Sterling and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also out in further weakening Arsenal’s right.

Many fans will be hoping to see Ethan Nwaneri game from the start after his impressive start at Gtech on Wednesday, but the 17-year-old might be better off entering the fray after the break. Here’s why.

Why Arteta should ditch Ethan Nwaneri

Arsenal have a habit of creating stars and Saka has established himself as one of Europe’s best strikers under Arteta’s wing and scored nine goals and 13 assists over 24 fit this term.

Saka, 23, has been a crowd pleaser at the Emirates for several years now, but in Nwaneri, Arsenal could have a talent who could soar just as high.

He describes it as “an absolute diamond”. talent hunter Jacek KuligNwaneri made his first Premier League start in place of Saka at Brentford, impressing with his silky passing, energy and progression, notably making two key passes and completing two out of three dribble attempts, according to Sofascore.

However, Arteta needs a clinical edge against a Brighton side prone to poor defending, mainly due to being stretched by their expansive style of football.

Sakina’s absence heightens the need for additional potency, and yet Gabriel Martinelli and in-forma Gabriel Jesus bagged for the last time, it might be wise to release Leandro Trossard for this one.

Leandro Trossard could send Brighton packing

Trossard was indeed a shrewd signing for the Emirates, scoring 22 goals and assisting another 15 in 94 appearances for Arsenal, of which he started only 50 games.

According to UnderstatBrighton are underperforming their goal conceding rate of 2.49, meaning their somewhat shaky line is actually keeping more goals than expected from the chances they’ve given their opponents.

This calls for someone like Trossard, who can ease Jesus’ burden at number nine and provide him with free play in pursuit of goals as well as key links.

According to FBrefThe Belgian ranks in the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wings in Europe’s top five leagues in the past year for goals scored (0.53) per 90, suggesting his skills could indeed be the secret recipe for success on the south coast.

Trossard may not have been in the best form recently, just s he has scored one goal in his last 13 Premier League gamesbut there’s no denying his enduring ability to hit the ball, still only missed three big opportunities this year scoring three goals, while also creating six big chances.

last season, journalist Sam Dean waxed lyrical on the 29-year-old’s natural goalscoring prowess, saying: “Leandro Trossard may not be Arsenal’s most skilled, quickest or most powerful striker. But he is their deadliest.”

As previously stated, there is also the matter of Nwaneri coming in and influencing the game from deep, carrying the power forward and pushing balls forward for, say, Trossard to latch on to and blast into the bottom corner.

Arteta will be hesitant to drop Martinelli after his recent improvements, however tentative, while Jesus is currently in inspired form and it would be ludicrous to draw the same goal threat from the side – especially in Saka’s permanent absence.

Nwaneri needs to be let go, not overloaded and allowed to nurture his precocious qualities as he works towards Premier League glory.

Trossard is the man for the job against his former club…