Mikel Arteta has faced numerous selection dilemmas this season, but finding a way to incorporate Ethan Nwaneri and Martin Odegaard into the same lineup is a challenge he may embrace.

At just 17 years old, Nwaneri has made his mark in the Arsenal first-team this season, impressively netting four goals.

Three of those goals were scored in the Carabao Cup, and he is expected to have another opportunity to showcase his talent tonight as Arsenal takes on Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.

Nwaneri is anticipated to replace Odegaard in the lineup, effectively positioning himself as the Arsenal captain’s understudy.

During Saturday's match against Everton, as the Gunners sought a crucial winner, it was Nwaneri who substituted Odegaard on the right side of Arsenal’s midfield trio.

Both players share similarities, being left-footed and adept in confined spaces. Nwaneri, like Odegaard, has made his way into the first team at a young age and is now under the spotlight.

This is why Odegaard, who joined Real Madrid at the age of 16, is taking the initiative to mentor Nwaneri.

“I have been trying to help him in many different ways,” Odegaard said. “I think for a young player, sometimes it is just to help him to be himself and feel natural, and don’t be like too much on him.

“Obviously it was a big change for me to go to Madrid at 16 years old and I was still a baby when I look back now. I think I just learned what it feels to be a young player in a senior squad and it’s not always the most easy thing.”

Arteta has gradually introduced Nwaneri into the team, starting him only in Carabao Cup matches and utilizing him in the same right No. 8 position whenever he comes off the bench in the Champions League or Premier League.

Nwaneri's swift ascent means that Arteta will eventually need to devise a strategy to incorporate both him and Odegaard into the same lineup. 

This is an intriguing possibility that Arteta may have to address sooner rather than later, especially considering the inconsistencies in Arsenal's attacking performance this season. 

As the team's central figure, Odegaard is unlikely to be displaced, placing the responsibility on Nwaneri to demonstrate his versatility in different positions. 

In Arsenal's youth teams, he has occasionally played on the right wing, and he also took on the role of a No. 9 during the Under-18s' journey to the FA Youth Cup final in the 2022-23 season.

“Ethan can play as a right attacking midfielder, a left attacking midfielder,” said Arteta. “He can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into - No9.

“He has got the goal in front of him and he looks at the goal and he has a tremendous ability to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly
Nwaneri's potential deployment as a striker is a compelling proposition, particularly given the underperformance of Arsenal's other forwards. 

Gabriel Jesus, expected to start this evening, has only scored once in his last 33 matches, a goal against Preston in the previous Carabao Cup round. He appears to lack confidence and requires a catalyst to revitalize his season.

“He does everything in the best possible way - his application, his energy, how he tries, how he wants it,” said Arteta. “He needs to be rewarded and hopefully he is going to get it soon.”

Currently, Manager Arteta prefers deploying Nwaneri in midfield, believing this to be his optimal position. 

However, should Nwaneri's performance significantly improve and Arsenal's attacking struggles persist, a positional shift could be rapidly implemented.