The atmosphere around Arsenal at the moment is extraordinary.
Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Premier League, League Cup and Champions League.
Moreover, they’re doing so amid an injury crisis which has left them with a threadbare attack and without summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Fortunately, even with all the injuries, there are several ways Arteta could address the Swede’s absence for the weekend’s game against Sunderland.
Arsenal’s Gyokeres solutions
One way Arteta could solve the problem of Gyokeres being out is by moving Leandro Trossard from the wing to the centre.
The Belgian is in fine form at the moment, having produced seven goal involvements in 13 games, and as Ian Wright points out, is arguably the club’s “best finisher.”
However, in playing the 30-year-old up front, the left-hand side is weakened, especially with Gabriel Martinelli out and Eberechi Eze playing in the middle of the park.
Another solution, and a bold one at that, could be to hand Andre Harriman-Annous his first league start for the club, as while he did not start against Brighton, he impressed.
The 17-year-old was making dangerous runs, picking up pockets of space and demonstrating a higher technical level than many might have been expecting.
However, what is far more likely is for Arteta to start Mikel Merino in the nine.
After all, the Spaniard has shown an impressive finishing ability over the last year or so and popped up with two goals against Slavia Prague during the week.
However, there is another option, one that is a little bolder, but could be particularly effective against Sunderland.
Arteta’s surprise solution to Gyokeres’ injury
Now, there is a very strong chance that Arteta opts to start Merino on Saturday, but there are a few reasons he should consider handing a rare start up top to Ethan Nwaneri.
The Hale Ender is primarily an attacking midfielder who spent much of last season on the right, earning plenty of praise, including from Arteta, who stated that the teenager “has the ability to take the ball in tight areas and to escape a little bit like Jack Wilshere used to do.” Promising signs, indeed.
That said, he is no stranger to playing as a nine. During his time in the academy, he made eight appearances in the position, scoring nine goals and providing two assists.
Nwaneri in 24/25
Appearances
37
Minutes
1378′
Goals
9
Assists
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.29
Minutes per Goal Involvement
125.27′
Moreover, in a press conference last season, Arteta said that the youngster “can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into – No9.”
It’s not hard to see why the manager might think that, as last season saw the academy gem score nine goals and provide two assists in just 1378 minutes, which is the sort of return you would expect from a top centre-forward.
Finally, the reason the “phenomenal” game-changer, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, could be the perfect choice for this game is his on-the-ball ability.
Unlike Merino, the 18-year-old has shown himself to be a talented dribbler and someone who can beat a defender with the ball at his feet, and as the Black Cats are likely to sit back, that could be incredibly useful.
Ultimately, while the conventional approach would be to start Merino in place of the injured Gyokeres, Arteta might be wise to go with Nwaneri instead.
