Arsenal: If not Eddie Nketiah than… someone like Eddie Nketiah

Arsenal needed an option off the bench that could change things against Wolverhampton, but they didn’t have it. They need someone like Eddie Nketiah.

The biggest problem that Arsenal found against Wolverhampton was that the Wolves defense was up to the challenge of taking on this fancy attack. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem. The Gunners have faced stout defenses before that have risen to the challenge.

But in those matches, they have had the ability to turn to the bench, where they’ve had any combination of Aubameyang, Welbeck, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, etc. There were always options.

Against Wolverhampton, with Lacazette and Aubameyang both stumbling over getting anything started, it would have been a premium time to put on someone like Welbeck, who can drive right into the teeth of defenses just like this.

Welbeck obviously isn’t going to be available to uphold that role for some time. Meaning that they need to find someone else. Because when Lacazette and Aubameyang are both deployed from the start, the risk is that, if they both fall flat, there is no one there to pluck a late goal.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Especially with Ramsey leaving, who has also hd a knack for those late goals.

With the January transfer window approaching, they need to access if they want to go after someone that can offer this late goal (like Olivier Giroud?) or if they want to go and give Eddie Nketiah a chance. Nketiah is the model of the type of player they want, a proven goal scorer with the optimism and belief of a young man on top of his game, as well as possessing speed and determination to win.

But Nketiah is quite young, and if Unai Emery doesn’t want to invest his hopes of late-match comebacks in someone like him I might understand…. but I also might not. Because someone like Nketiah is exactly who we would want. We saw it against Norwich City last year and he’s just been itching to get on the pitch again for the senior team.

He hasn’t had a chance yet this year. Yet, again, if you look at his profile, what else would you want? Your two star strikes have gone flat, you need a guy who just knows how to score.

It’s a risk, but it’s an option. If Emery is willing to invest in Emile Smith Rowe, why not Nketiah, who fits a clear and present need, despite his lack of experience?