For the fans with Arsenal tickets, the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest is a consolation. It is also reassuring that the team is still in the mix to go for the league title.
While the odds aren’t heavily stacked against the Gunners, hope remains.
Amidst this fight, Arsenal is now seeing the likes of a new prodigy emerge. Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest to debut in the Premier League, soon became the second youngest Arsenal player to score a goal for them.
A Special Game Against Nottingham Forest
Ethan Nwaneri made the headlines in 2022 when he debuted for Arsenal at just 15 years old.
With Mikel Arteta, he rewrote the history books to become the second youngest to score for Arsenal. All those with Arsenal tickets for the Forest game saw a shimmer of brilliance in the 86th minute with a screamer to the goal.
While the headlines have portrayed Nwaneri as a protege and the next big thing in the Premier League, manager Mikel Arteta wants to go a tougher route and downplay the expectations to give the player some space to play.
Need to Manage Nwaneri
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sought to ease some of the pressure and expectations surrounding the young prospect, who is only surpassed by Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas as Arsenal’s youngest goalscorer at 17 years and 113 days.
“What I love is that he comes in, and the first thing he does is touch the ball, drive forward, skip past two players, and place it just inches from the post,” highlighted the Spanish coach.
“You have to do it brick by brick. Today, Ethan added another brick. Then we add another layer, one more layer.”
Mikel Arteta took responsibility for Nwaneri’s future and development in football: “I am responsible for building a career for him. You have to do it brick by brick. Today, he added another brick. Then we add another layer, one more layer.”
With his construction analogy, Nwaneri’s manager warned, “If you want to lay five in a row, trust me, it won’t work… Now we have to put another layer of cement, ensure it doesn’t dry so we can add another and make sure it sticks… We need to manage his expectations and his workload, which is really important.”
“We need to manage not only his expectations but also his workload, which is really important,” emphasised Arteta.
Mikel Arteta reinforced his commitment to Ethan Nwaneri: “I will try to educate him, nurture him, and provide the path that we believe is the best.”
“His family, agent, and friends will also be very important. They shouldn’t listen too much to the noise; they should focus on what he does: playing football. He loves every minute, and good things will surely happen for him,” he remarked.
Odegaard-Saka Key for League Title
It’s been months since Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard was seen in an Arsenal jersey until the Forest game. On his return, he received a massive ovation from the fans with Arsenal tickets, as they knew how valuable he was to the team.
Looking at how he played against Nottingham Forest in the link-up play and the attack, fans instantly knew what their team lacked.
And with Odegaard back, Arsenal might have a chance to leap to the top spot in the final weeks.
Arsenal’s recent performance against Nottingham Forest highlighted the transformative impact of having both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka fit and firing.
The Gunners rediscovered their rhythm after a challenging period without their captain, showcasing why he is pivotal to their title aspirations in their home win against Forest.
Odegaard’s absence from an ankle injury earlier in the season saw Arsenal struggle for consistency, winning three of seven Premier League matches.
Saka shouldered the responsibility during that stretch, guiding the team through tough fixtures against Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United.
Despite not always looking convincing, Arsenal remained within striking distance of the top four, just one point behind reigning champions Manchester City.
However, the match against Forest provided a glimpse of the Arsenal team that pushed City to the brink last season.
Odegaard’s return brought fluidity to the midfield, while Saka’s brilliance ensured a dominant display.
They orchestrated a performance that left Forest, a team level on points before the game and capable of beating Liverpool, looking ordinary.
Saka opened the scoring with a thunderous strike after a slick one-two with Odegaard, who was at his creative best.
The Norwegian’s intricate passing, vision and off-the-ball movement created endless opportunities, including the space for Thomas Partey’s second goal.
Across their 82 minutes together, the duo exchanged 36 passes, underlining their seamless connection. Manager Mikel Arteta attributed their synergy to an innate understanding.
“When you put them together in the right spaces, things flourish,” Arteta said. “It’s chemistry on and off the pitch.”
Saka Improves with Odegaard
Saka’s statistical output improves significantly with Odegaard alongside him. Saka has been more prolific in matches they’ve played together this season, scoring more goals, creating more chances and taking more shots. Odegaard completed the most dribbles, created the most chances and delivered the most final-third passes of any player against Forest, epitomising his influence.
Their partnership also shapes Arsenal’s attacking dynamics, with 51 per cent of their forward play flowing down the right flank.
This imbalance is a testament to their combined effectiveness, as they repeatedly exploit defences with precision and creativity.
The Odegaard-Saka combination will be crucial to Arsenal’s title bid. While their brilliance is undeniable, they collectively elevate Arsenal’s attack to a level few teams can match.
Fans with Arsenal tickets will now wait for the January transfer window to see if Arteta opts for a high-profile striker to join the team. Earlier, Arteta stressed that he needed a star-class striker who could complete the squad.
Arsenal is heading to a packed few months of football with the UEFA Champions League League stage and the FA Cup approaching alongside the Premier League.
Fans will hope the Odegaard-Saka partnership will run through to the league’s completion.
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