
I see it's not been going so well for our poor Ethan. Hooked at half time for two consecutive games. Fans seem to think that while talented; he doesn't yet fully understand his responsibilities off the ball.
He's young and he'll learn. But for those who were foaming at the mouth telling Arteta to pick him over Merino or Odegaard should now give their heads a firm wobble.
Last season, he joined Michael Owen and Rooney as the only players to score 5 goals before their 18th birthday. He scored 9 goals last season and I can't remember him making any major errors.
He's gone to a new club with a fancy manager who will have his own off the ball system and what with him being young and inexperienced it'll take him time to adapt as he's only ever known Arteta-ball.
Still, given Vik's got Jan player of the month and then scored a brace at the weekend, I guess you can't slag him off so have turned your attention to a teenager on loan in France.
And afaim, no-one said he should be picked over MnM or Odin. Firstly, he plays a different role to MnM. All we said was that he'd looked great for his age as cover for both RW and inside right/no.10 and that signing both Noni and Easy had blocked the places for his progression.
With Jeez and Kai coming back at the same time Vik starts scoring, it means we now have Kai as a no.10 option and Easy's dropped down the pecking order.
We just don't want a born and bred Gooner with as much potential as pretty much anyone we've seen come through have their career ruined.
I dont think people (or many people) were calling for him to start over Odegaard. And the issue with Merino playing there was more about us being a negative.
I said in the summer that signing Madueke and Eze would steal his minutes. It seemed very obvious.
I also thought that it was easier for him to learn and progress on the right as the central role in our system carries a lot of responsibility. His best performances last season came on the right.
Aeteta clearly doesn't trust him yet and you may well see why over the next month or so. But good players learn, and if they have a bit about them they learn quickly. We'll see what he is made of.
Right now, we can't afford to have someone learning in matches. Every game is just too important this season.