Could Mikel Arteta play Eddie Nketiah & Gabriel Jesus together?

Gabriel Jesus was signed to be Arsenal’s leading man with Eddie Nketiah to serve as a back-up to the Brazilian, but could Mikel Arteta play them both?

Arsenal has taken all before them in pre-season, largely thanks to Gabriel Jesus and his ridiculous play. The Brazilian has been unplayable since arriving from Manchester City, and his fellow striker Eddie Nketiah has been just as good in front of goal.

Many think that Jesus will be the regular starter, and Nketiah will simply play second fiddle to the 25-year-old. But is there a scenario where Arteta plays them both?

If it were to happen, it would be out of necessity more than want, but during the Gunners’ pre-season games, we have seen Nketiah pushed out wide to allow Jesus to play centrally.

Could Mikel Arteta use Eddie Nketiah & Gabriel Jesus together?

Given Arsenal’s embarrassment of riches in the attacking third, the fluidity of the front three could easily allow both Jesus and Nketiah to be on the pitch at the same time.

Every player across the front three has a license to roam, and we saw that against Sevilla. Jesus popped up on the left; then, he could be seen dropping deep to receive a pass. Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard were the same, and this fluid movement could allow Nketiah to play alongside Jesus.

It is not likely that Arteta will play both up top in a two-striker system, but more one out wide while the other is more central. Both have pace, are great with the ball at their feet, and can cause opposition defences problems wherever they line up.

If Arteta did decide to play both Nketiah and Jesus from the outset, Gabriel Martinelli would likely miss out.

Nketiah through the middle, Saka on the right, and Jesus on the left with Martin Odegard just behind the club’s new number 14. Now, will that happen this season? It is unlikely, but yes, it’s a possibility.

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Given the club’s attacking options on the bench in Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, and Nicolas Pepe, and then add in either Nketiah or Martinelli, the combinations that Arteta could use are frightening.

While it is unlikely that both will be used at the same time, as Nketiah is likely to start in cup games, Europa League, and the odd league game, we may see both on the pitch later in the second halves of games if Arsenal are chasing a result.

At the time of writing, having both Jesus and Nketiah up top is not viable, given Arteta’s wealth of attacking options. But there could be a time when the Spaniard does choose to play both.

I’m hesitant to say it will be a consistent thing we see this season, however.