“Arteta is not serious, how can you have such player in your academy and preferred to play Merino as your striker? I watched that kid’s performance last week and OMG he’s so good…He scored five goals in that particular game with powerful shots”: Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger impressed by academy striker, urged Arteta to start playing him

Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand should be in line for a spot in Arsenal’s first-team squad in the coming games, and perhaps he even deserves some time on the pitch.

Arsenal youth midfielder Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand is likely to make it into Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad for at least some of the coming games, but there’s an argument to be made that he deserves more than that.

With Myles Lewis-Skelly suspended, there will be an extra spot on the bench for a youth player when Arsenal play Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Arteta may choose to add another forward to his options, with Ismeal Kabia the obvious choice. But midfielder Oulad M’Hand could be the better option, particularly given he’s also capable of playing in the front three.

Arsenal will also have extra room on the bench for the upcoming Champions League tie against PSV, due to the expanded 23-man squads in the competition.

So even if Oulad M’Hand misses out against Forest, he should be on the bench against PSV. Just as he was for the last game against Girona.

That appearance on the bench against Girona was the 12th time Oulad M’Hand has been named as a substitute for the Arsenal first team, but he’s yet to make his debut. Perhaps now he’s more ready than ever before.

Despite all the talk about Arsenal’s attacking options (and rightly so), the Gunners have also been struggling for midfield creativity and goalscoring in recent matches. Oulad M’Hand can offer both, and he’s showing excellent form with the u21s.

The 21-year-old is currently the captain of the u21 side. He has nine goals and assists in 11 Premier League 2 fixtures this season, and he has experience of senior football from a loan to Dutch side Den Bosch last campaign.

With Martin Odegaard struggling against West Ham on Saturday, Arteta had no one resembling an attacking midfield option to bring off the bench. The closest he could manage was to introduce Myles Lewis-Skelly and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Just a day earlier, those in attendance at Arsenal’s u21 win over Newcastle United were unanimous in their agreement that Oulad M’Hand looked far too good for youth football.

Arsenal have the squad space, they have the need, and they have a youth player in good form with senior experience who has clearly surpassed the u21 game. He deserves a chance.With Martin Odegaard struggling against West Ham on Saturday, Arteta had no one resembling an attacking midfield option to bring off the bench. The closest he could manage was to introduce Myles Lewis-Skelly and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Just a day earlier, those in attendance at Arsenal’s u21 win over Newcastle United were unanimous in their agreement that Oulad M’Hand looked far too good for youth football.

Arsenal have the squad space, they have the need, and they have a youth player in good form with senior experience who has clearly surpassed the u21 game. He deserves a chance.