Mikel Arteta has hailed Ethan Nwaneri for his ‘tremendous ability’ in front of goal in a big hint that the Arsenal star is set for a new role as a striker. The 17-year-old Hale End academy graduate has featured as a right winger, attacking midfielder and central midfielder under Arteta so far this season.
![[Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_230664440-629a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Nwaneri registered his first Premier League goal for Arsenal last month in the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. He also found the back of the net twice in a 5-1 Carabao Cup win against Bolton in September and scored again in the next round against Preston.
‘Ethan can play as a right attacking midfielder, a left attacking midfielder,’ Arteta said on Tuesday, with Nwaneri likely to start for the Gunners in their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace on Wednesday. ‘He can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into – No.9.
‘He has got the goal in front of him and he looks at the goal and he has a tremendous ability to put the ball in the back of the net.’. Arsenal have failed to score from open play in their last three Premier League games in what is becoming a growing issue for the club.
Many pundits have argued the north Londoners need to bring in a new, world-class striker in the January transfer window to get their Premier League title challenge back on track. Former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Didi Hamann, though, hasargued that it’s too late for Arsenal and says they’re out of the title race.
