Following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League, Rio Ferdinand has called for Mikel Arteta to provide more playing time to young star Ethan Nwaneri.
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The Gunners faced a tough loss in Milan, where Hakan Calhanoglu’s first-half penalty proved to be the decisive goal. While Arsenal dominated possession and created chances in the second half, they struggled to break through Inter’s resilient defence.
Nwaneri was brought on with just eight minutes left, but during his short stint, he showed flashes of brilliance in the attacking third.
Ferdinand highlighted Nwaneri’s ability to bring a spark of creativity and imagination, something Arsenal lacked throughout the match. “You look at him and think, should they give him a bit more responsibility?” Ferdinand commented, praising Nwaneri’s potential to unlock tight defences.
Despite Arsenal’s numerous attempts, including 46 crosses, they struggled to create clear chances. Ferdinand also pointed out the team’s inability to show guile and imagination in the final third. Arsenal’s play often lacked a plan, with crosses coming into the box without purpose or a real chance for the attackers to capitalize.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown also voiced his opinion, stating that Nwaneri should have been introduced earlier in the game. “I think it improved when Nwaneri came on,” Keown remarked, also agreeing that his creativity could have made a difference if given more time.
With Arsenal set to face Chelsea in the Premier League next, there’s growing support for Arteta to hand Nwaneri more opportunities to influence the game. It seems that many feel he could be the key to unlocking Arsenal’s attacking potential, providing the spark that’s been missing in recent matches.