Mikel Arteta can unleash the ‘next Cesc Fabregas’ in the North London Derby amid Arsenal crisis

Arsenal are facing a tough trip to face Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby, and they are in the middle of a midfield crisis.

Declan Rice is suspended for the trip after his controversial red card against Brighton, and new signing Mikel Merino is sidelined with an injury he picked up in his first training session.

The final piece of the midfield puzzle is captain Martin Odegaard, but he picked up an injury during the International break, which could see him ruled out of the clash.

With Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira leaving Arsenal in the summer, Mikel Arteta is now short of midfield options, and he may be tempted to throw talented youngster Ethan Nwaneri into the deep end.

Nwaneri is the biggest talent in the Hale End Academy, and it is clear that he has been entrusted to replace Smith Rowe and Vieira in the squad.

It would be a big ask for him to start in such a big game, but he is now in the same position that a young Cesc Fabregas found himself in at the start of the 2004-05 season.

How injuries led to Cesc Fabregas Arsenal breakthrough

Arsenal were the defending champions protecting their unbeaten run at the start of the 2004-05 season, but Arsene Wenger was dealt a blow as captain Patrick Vieira was injured as the campaign began.

Wenger then entrusted Fabregas to take Vieira’s place in what was arguably the greatest side in Arsenal’s history.

Fabregas started in midfield at just 17 years and 103 days old, becoming their then-youngest ever Premier League player, a record now held by Nwaneri.

The Spaniard continued to start until Vieira returned, but Gilberto Silva then picked up an injury, and Fabregas was again entrusted to replace him.

Fabregas even started in an away North London Derby, in which Arsenal won 5-4 in a dramatic encounter, and the teenager provided an assist as he played the entire 90 minutes.

Ray Parlour had departed in the summer, and Fabregas was seen as the replacement for him within the squad.

Ethan Nwaneri can replicate Cesc Fabregas Arsenal breakthrough

Nwaneri is now 71 days older than Fabregas was when he started in the Invincibles midfield, and he shone in pre-season amongst the first team squad.

Parlour’s departure to create a pathway for Fabregas is parallell to Smith Rowe and Vieira’s exits, with Nwaneri ready for a big opportunity.

With Rice, Merino and Odegaard absent, it could be down to Nwaneri to be given a chance, and if he steps up like Fabregas did, this could end up providing the perfect platform for the teenager to become an established member of the first team, and solve Arteta’s problem.