It is easy to forget that Ethan Nwaneri is still just 18-years-old.

Right now he is not close to getting minutes at The Arsenal.

With Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli ahead of him, he is at best 7th in line. And then you take into account that Kai Havertz can play deeper, Gabriel Jesus outwide, and Mikel Merino and option, it will take a lot of injuries to see him get any serious play time.

Sitting on the bench and maybe getting 5-10 minutes in games which are done will do nothing for his development. At 18 it is perfectly normal for a player to go out on loan to get regular minutes.

We signed Martin Odegaard at 23 from Real Madrid. Odegaard was a wonderkid, signing for Madrid at 16, and making his debut not long after. It took him 4 loan deals to develop into the player he is today.

Nwaneri will be 23 in 5-years time. We need to allow him to continue to develop if we want him to read the level of an Odegaard. And regular game time is key to that – as it was with Odegaard who played over 100 games in 3 seasons on loan.

In 5-years time, Odegaard will be 32…

If Nwaneri continues to work hard and improve, there is a pathway to the first team. But we are now a different beast and to get into Arsenal’s first team you now need to be one of the best in the world in your position.

And if Nwaneri doesn’t develop as expected, or doesn’t want to wait for his chance, the door will be open for him to make his exit. And we will bank big money.

Great loan deal and good luck to him!

Keenos

It feels odd sitting there on Sunday evening watching a crap film, feeling disappointed that we have extended out league at the top of the league.

It is now 7 points. But it could have been 9. Or even 11. And I get the disappointment.

But what has happened at the top end of the league in the last 5 games is incredible, and not sure I have seen it before:

Arsenal: 11/15 points
Man City: 6/15
Aston Villa: 7/15
Liverpool: 7/15
Man U: 9/15
Chelsea: 5/15

The top 6 in the Premier League averaging 7.5 points from 15. That’s 1.5 points a game. On for a 57 point season.

So what is happening? The only thing I can think is that most of the teams have payed 8-9 games in less than 30 days. For Arsenal it was 9 games in 27 days. A game every 3 days.

Are we now seeing the additional games from the Champions League and the shorter season due to the World Cup taking its toll?

Some will say “we shouldn’t celebrate being the least worst”, but if we maintain that position for the rest of the season, we win it.

Yes, be disappointed about the draw against Notts Forest. But we are still outperforming those around us. Back the boys.

Keenos

The haters are out in force this morning trying to do everything they can to derail our four-front trophy challenge.

This morning it seems the pile is in aimed at Bukayo Saka.

Whilst almost every left back to have faced him as labelled him as “their toughest opponent to play against”, media pundits and Arsenal fans have decided to dig the knife into him.

The put up screenshots in an attempt to highlight situations where Saka has not played in Gyokeres. As if they have played football to anywhere near Saka’s level and could have made the pass themselves.

“Saka doesn’t lie to pass to Gyokeres” really is a crazy conspiracy theory. As if when on the pitch players refuse to pass to teammates to the detriment of team when chasing trophies. It does not happen.

From claiming his is overrated to trying to create a narrative that he does not like Viktor Gyokeres, it is the latest in a long line of attacks on Arsenal dating back as long as I can remember.

Our haters, of which oddly many claim to be Arsenal fans, will always find something to dig us out. Whether it is our red card record, our lack of Englishmen, our 8-year trophy drought, or now Bukayo Saka and our set piece prowess. There will always be something.

Meanwhile we have played 32 games this season. Lost just 2. A 78% win rate.

Haters will always hate. They do not tie honest commentary on the game. They will always just to find a narrative to suit their agenda. And right now that narrative is attacking Bukayo Saka.

Block them out. Back the team.

Keenos