Brentford vs Arsenal - Match reaction and player rating

[Xhaka Can’t]

I’m not a fan of the decision to field Nwaneri. I know it’s only for four minutes, but it raises expectations and pressures at a ridiculously early age as well as the pressure to field him.

He is still a child and the physical demands placed on him to compete at this level could lead to injury that shortens a career before it should even start.

Am I being overly critical here? It just doesn’t sit well with me.

[mandela8]

I’m not a fan of the decision to field Nwaneri. I know it’s only for four minutes, but it raises expectations and pressures at a ridiculously early age as well as the pressure to field him.

He is still a child and the physical demands placed on him to compete at this level could lead to injury that shortens a career before it should even start.

Am I being overly critical here? It just doesn’t sit well with me.

I'm with you. Well probably not hear from him for a few years now. Kinda reeks of self aggrandizing from Arteta, to me. A kinda "look at me, I've started the youngest ever player" thing. It was just pointless. I'm sure the wee boy is delighted though and I doubt it'll Impact his actual development plan.

[Mac76]

I'm with you. Well probably not hear from him for a few years now. Kinda reeks of self aggrandizing from Arteta, to me. A kinda "look at me, I've started the youngest ever player" thing. It was just pointless. I'm sure the wee boy is delighted though and I doubt it'll Impact his actual development plan.

Well as long as Arteta follows it through by giving him more opportunities it's fine.

Was impressed by the boy, imagine how hard his heart must have been thumping prior to coming on but he got stuck in, good for him

[mandela8]

Well as long as Arteta follows it through by giving him more opportunities it's fine.

Was impressed by the boy, imagine how hard his heart must have been thumping prior to coming on but he got stuck in, good for him

He definitely won't, man. I don't think he's even eligible for Europe.

On a similar note, I was reading the reviews of Patino. I wonder if he has anything to do with them not bringing that progressive no.8 type CM in.

[IBK]

I’m not a fan of the decision to field Nwaneri. I know it’s only for four minutes, but it raises expectations and pressures at a ridiculously early age as well as the pressure to field him.

He is still a child and the physical demands placed on him to compete at this level could lead to injury that shortens a career before it should even start.

Am I being overly critical here? It just doesn’t sit well with me.

Not sure I agree. I think that the introduction of Nwaneri simply sent a message both to our youth players and more generally that Arsenal is a club that will give opportunities for them to progress their careers. By fielding the youngest average age team in the EPL we are already showing a committment to youth team progression, that both sets us apart from the other top teams and feeds into our more general strategy - to focus on the best young talent rather than trying to compete for the very best established names with clubs for whom finance is not a consideration. While giving Nwaneri some minutes was a 'stunt' to a degree - the coverage that this received was for me a useful PR exercise that cost neither the club nor the player anything.