Ethan Nwaneri in action. (Photo by Ryan Pierce/Getty Images)
Teenage talent Ethan Nwaniri is the man who will help Arsenal fill the void left by the injured Bukayo Saka.
That's the view of club legend Martin Keown, who believes Nwaniri can “offer something different” to Arsenal.
Saka is one of the most effective players in the Premier League this season, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists in 16 Premier League matches. In all competitions, that record stands at nine goals and 13 assists in 24 matches.
However, the England international suffered what appears to be a hamstring injury Mikel Arteta is very worried.
It seems almost certain that Arsenal will be without Saka for the rest of the festive schedule.
But the Gunners cannot afford to let their foot off the gas, as they already trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by six points with an extra game to play.
With that in mind, Arteta needs to ensure that Saka's absence does not impact his team too badly.
Will Ethan Nwaneri fill Saka's void at Arsenal?
Keon has backed Nwaniri to help fill the void, as has Gabriel Jesus, who has scored five goals in his last two games after scoring just one goal in his last 20 games this season.
“I don't know a player who has created more chances for his teammates in the Premier League this season, so obviously it would be a really big waste,” said Keown, the former Arsenal centre-back. talkSPORT.
“It's up to someone to step up, maybe (Ethan) Nwaneri, who was playing in (Martin) Odegaard's role, maybe he can come to the front line and give us something different.
“Jesus has suddenly scored five goals in a week, it's been a long time coming, so he needs to keep it up.
He added: “But in the final third there must be more creativity, and it may be less now that you are losing one of the best players in the English Premier League.”
Nwaniri has played just 108 minutes in the Premier League this season, scoring one goal. However, the 17-year-old has three goals to his name in three UEFA Cup appearances.
