Martin Keown suggests one player who could fill in for Bukayo Saka after playing ‘Martin Odegaard role’ for Arsenal
Martin Keown believes that Ethan Nwaneri could be the man to best deputise for Bukayo Saka at Arsenal. Saka is facing the prospect of being out until February after picking up a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace at the weekend. Ethan Nwaneri could be the man to replace Bukayo SakaAP His injury will come as a big blow, with talkSPORT reporter Ian Abrahams revealing on commentary duty that Saka looked emotional as he walked towards the tunnel against Crystal Palace, describing him as ‘distressed’. A key player for Mikel Arteta‘s side, the Gunners will be fearing the prospect of being without the England star for more than five weeks and with that, Arteta must find a viable replacement to keep their title charge on track. But according to Arsenal legend Keown, it’s the club’s 17-year-old sensation who could provide a surprise solution. Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Keown said: “I don’t know of a player that has created more chances for his colleagues in the Premier League this season, so he’s obviously going to be a really big miss. “It’s up to someone to step up, maybe [Ethan] Nwaneri, who has been playing in the [Martin] Odegaard role, maybe he could come in to the front line and give us something different. “Jesus has suddenly scored five goals in a week, that’s been a long time coming, so he needs to sustain that. “But it’s in that final third where there needed to be more creativity and it could be less now as you’re losing one of the best players in the Premier League.” Nwaneri has played for Arsenal 16 times this season, with just three of those coming in the starting lineup. However with four goals to his name the 17-year-old has looked more than comfortable lining up the Gunners. But replacing Saka for Arsenal will be no easy task. Saka was in serious discomfort as he came off against Crystal PalaceGetty Arsenal have a number of important fixtures between now and February Providing an update on the 23-year-old, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told reporters on Friday: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.” Saka has been in incredible form this season having scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 24 games so far.
Martin Keown believes that Ethan Nwaneri could be the man to best deputise for Bukayo Saka at Arsenal.
Saka is facing the prospect of being out until February after picking up a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
His injury will come as a big blow, with talkSPORT reporter Ian Abrahams revealing on commentary duty that Saka looked emotional as he walked towards the tunnel against Crystal Palace, describing him as ‘distressed’.
A key player for Mikel Arteta‘s side, the Gunners will be fearing the prospect of being without the England star for more than five weeks and with that, Arteta must find a viable replacement to keep their title charge on track.
But according to Arsenal legend Keown, it’s the club’s 17-year-old sensation who could provide a surprise solution.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Keown said: “I don’t know of a player that has created more chances for his colleagues in the Premier League this season, so he’s obviously going to be a really big miss.
“It’s up to someone to step up, maybe [Ethan] Nwaneri, who has been playing in the [Martin] Odegaard role, maybe he could come in to the front line and give us something different.
“Jesus has suddenly scored five goals in a week, that’s been a long time coming, so he needs to sustain that.
“But it’s in that final third where there needed to be more creativity and it could be less now as you’re losing one of the best players in the Premier League.”
Nwaneri has played for Arsenal 16 times this season, with just three of those coming in the starting lineup.
However with four goals to his name the 17-year-old has looked more than comfortable lining up the Gunners.
But replacing Saka for Arsenal will be no easy task.
Providing an update on the 23-year-old, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told reporters on Friday: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.”
Saka has been in incredible form this season having scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 24 games so far.
