Former Arsenal star Martin Keown has urged manager Mikel Arteta to give youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly a rest in the second leg of the Gunners' Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven.
The two academy stars have played more than some might have anticipated this season, albeit for varying reasons. Nwaneri has been forced to deputise amid injuries to the likes of Bukayo Sakaand Gabriel Jesus, while Lewis-Skelly has made himself hard to drop since earning an opportunity at left-back.
Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly combined for a goal in the first leg in Eindhoven, with Arsenal eventually running out 7-1 winners. The latter was withdrawn early by Arteta, though, having perhaps been fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a foul on Richy Ledezma.
With a healthy advantage going into the second leg on Wednesday, Arteta has a chance to give some players a rest. While he might not make 11 changes from the side which drew with Manchester Unitedon Sunday, Invincibles defender Keown thinks a night off for the youngsters might not be the worst thing.
Nwaneri, he's only 17 years of age and he's had to play so many games," TNT Sports pundit Keown told Mirror Football. "You want him to play and you're sort of fast-track learning these players.
"They've got Lewis-Skelly the same, two great talents. I think Nwaneri, you're getting a little bit of that inconsistency because he's only 17, he's not fully developed, whereas Lewis-Skelly is like a beast of a player, really strong, contact player, and he's learning the game and getting the right balance.
Nwaneri, he's only 17 years of age and he's had to play so many games," TNT Sports pundit Keown told Mirror Football. "You want him to play and you're sort of fast-track learning these players.
He's been involved in a couple of situations that I'm sure he's going to learn from. So they probably could both do with a bit of a rest, it would have to be calamitous if we were to go out so it is an opportunity to rest key players."