“Having done my best for Arsenal, I don’t expect such comments from the club’s legend…I’m so disappointed now”: Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard isn’t happy with Arsene Wenger’s latest comment on Ethan Nwaneri

As every game goes by, it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore Ethan Nwaneri’s burgeoning potential at Arsenal.

Against Leicester City last weekend, Nwaneri was the best player on the pitch for Arsenal, a team that also contained the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

But during an abject performance from the Gunners for the majority of the game, Nwaneri was still providing constant reason for excitement.

The biggest compliment you can give Nwaneri right now is that Bukayo Saka’s absence has seldom been mentioned whilst he’s been playing, the focus has purely been on there being no striker alongside Arsenal’s wingers.

That being said, former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger might have just hinted that Nwaneri’s future could be in central midfield, rather than out wide.

Arsene Wenger suggests that Ethan Nwaneri could change positions at Arsenal

Speaking via beIN SPORTS recently, Wenger described Nwaneri as a ‘creator’ and actually compared him to former Arsenal man Cesc Fabregas.

And whilst Wenger’s words are extremely exciting for Arsenal fans, they might be slightly more concerning from Odegaard’s point of view.

The Arsenal captain will obviously be willing Nwaneri to realise every bit of potential he can, but the 17-year-old might now be coming for his starting role long term.

Praising Nwaneri, Wenger said: “Nwaneri is more a creator through his final ball, his dribbling and the quality of his passing.

“Yeah, of course, Fabregas was very strong mentally but this boy looks as well and when I look at him, his maturity, it’s difficult for me to think he’s 17 years old.”

Odegaard has been criticised this season, perhaps slightly unfairly so, but it does now seem as if Arsenal have generational talent coming through in his position.

Mikel Arteta could be forced to drop Martin Odegaard
Although Mikel Arteta handed Odegaard the captain’s armband a few seasons ago, you would have to believe that every player can be dropped.

And once Saka returns from injury, it seems very unlikely that Nwaneri would simply fall to the bench based on recent evidence.

So how does Arteta get Odegaard, Saka and Nwaneri in the same team? It’s not easy.

Micah Richards thinks Nwaneri can become a striker, and perhaps he will in time.

But it seems unlikely that Arteta would put that kind of pressure on a 17-year-old during the title run-in, a move that seems more likely to be tried in pre-season.

And whilst it’s currently unthinkable for Odegaard to be dropped as well, it will be very interesting to see how Arteta copes with his ‘positive problem’.

In the summer, some Arsenal fans were perplexed when Emile Smith Rowe was sold and Fabio Vieira loaned out, but Arteta knew just how talented Nwaneri was, a path he didn’t want to block.