Ethan Nwaneri must remind Mikel Arteta what he said in 2024 as Viktor Gyokeres struggles again

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Viktor Gyokeres made it seven games without a goal for Arsenal when drawing a blank in the 1-0 win over Fulham.

The Sweden international put in an impressive shift once again and continued to make smart runs, but failed to score despite taking three shots at Bernd Leno.

As Arsenal now prepare to embark on a run of ten games in the next 46 days, Ethan Nwaneri needs to remind Mikel Arteta what he said back in December 2024 about his ability to play as a striker.

Mikel Arteta must back up his words by giving Ethan Nwaneri an opportunity to lead the line

The Arsenal No.22 was once again left on the bench at Craven Cottage – the fifth time Arteta has ignored him this season.

That in itself should concern Arsenal fans seeing as Nwaneri wanted assurances over playing time before eventually signing a new contract in August.

It represents strange treatment from the Arsenal boss.

Arteta hailed Nwaneri in December 2024 and said that he felt the Hale End graduate can operate effectively as a striker with time. The Spaniard claimed: “Ethan can play as a right attacking midfielder, left attacking midfielder, as a right winger and there is another position he can develop into in a few years time. Nine.

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

With Kai Havertz still sidelined through injury and Gyokeres struggling, we feel Arteta has to give Nwaneri a chance in this position at least once in the next ten games.

Furthermore, sources state that Arsenal never intended to use Gyokeres this much so soon after his £64m move from Sporting CP – but have been forced to play the Swede regularly after Havertz required knee surgery.

Dropping the man born in Stockholm would also present him with a wake-up call amid a barren spell in front of goal. For a multitude of reasons, Arteta needs to trust Nwaneri.

What Mikel Arteta said after Viktor Gyokeres failed to score against Fulham

The 43-year-old continues to support his £64m signing despite a lack of goals.

Arteta told BBC Sport: “He was very close today again, two or three times. We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal, so we try to give him support and love and it will come.”

Gyokeres cuts the figure of a man who is both trying too hard and is also feeling the pressure of having to lead the line almost singlehandedly.

Arteta can alleviate some of that pressure by handing Nwaneri minutes in the No.9 role, which would give Gyokeres a chance to clear his head, and also keep the England U21 international happy after a lack of game time so far this season.