Arsenal legend Ray Parlour can understand why Mikel Arteta let both Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira leave in the summer transfer window, as the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri has provided Martin Odegaard with vital backup in the number 10 role.
Odegaard was at his creative best in the second half of Wednesday's 3-2 EFL Cup quarter-final victory over Crystal Palace, setting up two of Gabriel Jesus's three goals as the Gunners fought back to eliminate their London rivals.
The Norwegian's pair of helpers for Jesus in midweek took his total for the season to one goal and five assists from 13 appearances, having previously missed 12 games in all tournaments with the ankle injury he sustained during the September international break.
Arsenal failed to score against Atalanta BC, Bournemouth and Newcastle United during the absence of Odegaard, whose main two deputies last season - Smith Rowe and Vieira - were allowed to leave in the summer for Fulham and Porto permanently and on loan respectively.
The club's decisions to let both players go drew criticism, but Parlour - a three-time Premier League winner with Arsenal - can understand their thinking, telling Sports Mole: "Emile is a player I always liked.
'Nwaneri emergence explains Vieira, Smith Rowe exits'
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"Last season with the way the team was playing he wasn't getting enough game time, but you can't always count on having a fully fit first XI all the time, which Arsenal did more most of last season. With Ethan Nwaneri coming through, you can see the reason Mikel may have allowed them both to leave."
Nwaneri memorably became the Premier League's youngest player of all time against Brentford in September 2022, coming off the bench at the age of 15 years and 181 days, and the 17-year-old is now an established member of the first team.
Nwaneri has four goals to show for his efforts this season, three of which have come in the EFL Cup - a brace against Bolton Wanderers and long-range stunner against Preston North End - and his first in the top flight against Nottingham Forest last month.
The England Under-19 international is yet to start a Premier League match, though, and he was also substituted for Odegaard at half time in Wednesday's win over Palace, despite showing some neat footwork in the first half.
However, Odegaard's introduction - and Jurrien Timber shifting to right-back - changed the course of the game, and Parlour has implored the former to keep working at full throttle as Arsenal hunt down Liverpool at the Premier League summit.
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"Arsenal do need Odegaard to be on top form to ensure Arsenal keep tabs with Liverpool," Parlour added. "You could see that when Odegaard came back in the team that Arsenal looked more of a threat going forward. He sets the tone as captain and leads well with the way Arsenal press."
Odegaard is expected to take Nwaneri's place in the first XI for Saturday's Premier League reunion with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, where Arsenal will endeavour to take advantage of Chelsea and Liverpool playing a day later.
If the Gunners win, they will be just one point behind second-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table and three behind the league-leading Reds, but Arne Slot's men would have two games in hand.
As Arteta chases Arsenal's first league title since 2004, Parlour also delivered his verdict on whether the Spaniard has taken the Gunners as far as he can since replacing Unai Emery in late 2019.
Parlour won 12 major honours during his time at Arsenal, scoring 32 goals in 466 appearances for the club between 1991 and 2004.
Ray Parlour was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of NetBet Sports Betting.
Ben Knapton
