Mikel Arteta finds himself navigating a peculiar challenge at Arsenal this season - the kind of problem most managers would envy. The Gunners currently sit atop both the Premier League and their Champions League group, yet behind the scenes, the Spanish tactician faces a delicate balancing act with his squad's emerging talents.
The Injury Crisis That Never Was
Arsenal's impressive form becomes even more remarkable when considering the injury setbacks they've overcome. Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes have all spent time in the treatment room this campaign. Yet the team has continued to deliver results, largely unaffected by these absences.
This resilience stems directly from the club's ambitious summer transfer activity. Under sporting director Andrea Berta, Arsenal invested over £250million across eight new signings, creating what Arteta describes as "at least two top-quality players per position." This strategic depth has proven crucial during the injury disruptions.
Young Talents Feeling the Squeeze
While the returning players represent good news for Arsenal's title ambitions, they create a selection headache for Arteta regarding his promising academy graduates. Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman - three highly-rated youngsters - have seen their opportunities diminish despite showing immense potential.
The situation appears particularly challenging for Nwaneri. The 18-year-old made significant strides last season, contributing nine goals and two assists in 37 appearances. This campaign, however, he's been limited to just three starts, with two arriving in the Carabao Cup. His total of 428 minutes of competitive action falls well below what he achieved previously.
Lewis-Skelly's development has similarly stalled. After breaking through with 39 appearances last term, the 19-year-old finds himself behind Riccardo Calafiori in the left-back pecking order, with Piero Hincapie also providing increased competition.
Arteta's Delicate Balancing Act
Arteta addressed these challenges during his pre-match briefing ahead of the Chelsea clash, revealing that Nwaneri participated in a behind-closed-doors friendly alongside Gabriel Jesus. "Yeah, it did happen, so Gabi participated, Ethan as well, because he wanted some minutes, so we took that opportunity," Arteta confirmed.
The Arsenal manager faces the complex task of maintaining the team's exceptional form while managing player development and squad harmony. His comments about defensive options Cristhian Mosquera and Hincapie highlighted this juggling act: "In relation to the opponent, the game, the state that the players are in, Myles as well, is obviously a very good option that we have there. Keep using everybody and making them feel that they are connected with the team."
For Lewis-Skelly, the reduced playing time carries additional significance. The defender needs regular minutes to force his way back into England's World Cup plans after being omitted for Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly in recent qualifiers. As Thomas Tuchel noted this month, "Myles simply needs more starts, more minutes."
Despite the challenges, Lewis-Skelly maintains a positive outlook. "I'm enjoying it," he said last month. "It's a different experience for me, not playing as much at the moment, but I'm enjoying being part of the team. It's important to compete for places and I'm a competitive person, so I'm never going to back down."
Arteta's man-management skills will be crucial in the coming months. If he can maintain squad harmony and keep his young talents engaged despite limited minutes, Arsenal could achieve the perfect scenario: sustained success across competitions while developing their next generation of stars.
