BREAKING NEWS Pep Guardiola has stated that Arteta still lacks a winning mentality, which was an issue during their time together. Guardiola emphasizes that this behavior could be detrimental to Arsenal, as he hopes Arteta succeeds once he leaves the Premier League. He points out that this is the key factor that could lead them to falter in the league for a third time.

Pep Guardiola recently commented on Mikel Arteta’s ongoing struggle to instill a winning mentality at Arsenal, a challenge that Guardiola observed when Arteta was part of his coaching team.

While Guardiola emphasized that he wasn’t criticizing Arteta, he expressed concern that the Arsenal manager’s current tactics could negatively affect the club’s chances of success. Despite this, Guardiola stated his desire for Arteta to succeed, especially once he himself departs from the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he will continue to ease teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri into the first team, despite growing calls from fans to include the young midfielder in the starting lineup.

These demands have increased following Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Bournemouth, where Arteta’s conservative approach left the team without a natural playmaker due to the absence of key players Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka.

During that match, Mikel Merino made his debut for Arsenal in an unfamiliar role, partnering with Kai Havertz in the primary pressing line. Nwaneri only appeared briefly towards the end of the game but showed glimpses of his immense potential.

With Ødegaard still sidelined and Nwaneri’s promising senior performances, there has been significant pressure for the teenager to feature more prominently in the upcoming fixtures.

Arteta faces a prime opportunity to give Nwaneri his second start when Shakhtar Donetsk visits Arsenal for Matchday 3 of the Champions League. However, Arteta has remained cautious, emphasizing the importance of timing and patience in the young player’s development.

In a pre-match press conference, Arteta explained, “It’s about recognizing the right moments, understanding his position, the team’s situation, and when it’s best to introduce a player.”

Nwaneri, who has already broken records, has had limited minutes in the Premier League, appearing three times as a substitute. However, he started in a dominant 5-1 victory over League One side Bolton in the Carabao Cup, where he scored twice.

Though Nwaneri is unlikely to play a central role in upcoming tough matches against Liverpool, Inter Milan, Newcastle, and Chelsea, he has shown he can contribute against teams like Shakhtar. Many supporters, however, are eager for Arteta to give Nwaneri a bigger chance soon, believing it’s time to unleash the young talent.