There was plenty of talk in the wake of defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday about how Mikel Arteta was too staid in his team selection.
And while the players we had out were more than good enough to get a result, I do agree that we lacked something in the middle of the park; call it a creative spark, some fluidity or general guile in possession.
In truth, it’s the same thing we have lacked since Martin Odegaard was injured during September’s international break. The Norwegian is an incredibly gifted technician and capable of both dictating the tempo of our passing and creating a chance like no-one else in the squad.
His absence has been masked for a long time but, at the weekend, that mask slipped. Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey, for all their virtues and individual quality, are not ball players in the way Odegaard is.
Starting those three in midfield was a particularly conservative choice from the manager and, in the end, had none of the positive effects he thought it might.
Clearly, something needs to change because we will continue to be without our captain for a few more weeks yet.
Given the departures of Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira in the summer, two players well suited to step into Odegaard’s shoes, it leaves the manager with a real dilemma.
To play Ethan Nwaneri or not to play Ethan Nwaneri.
So far, Mikel has erred on the side of caution and the 17-year-old has been deployed sparingly. For me, that situation is going to have to change.
I understand the manager’s reticence because 17 is no age at all and Ethan has precious little experience at the highest level. What he does have, though, is prodigious talent and the sort of technical ability and creativity we badly need in midfield.
It’s an enormous amount to ask of any young player but, as Bukayo Saka has shown, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Against Shakhtar Donestk tonight (Tuesday), I think the time has come.
At home, against an opponent unlikely to cause us enormous issues, the stage is set for Nwaneri. Of course, it’s possible he may sink, he may be overawed, but it’s also possible he may, like Cesc Fabregas before him, blow us all away.
Liverpool at the weekend is another matter entirely but, tonight, the risk is worth the reward.
We need to show signs of life again from an attacking perspective because we’ve looked stodgy at times. He has the tools to change that. I am hopeful the manager will see it that way too.
Taking a wider view, we should be looking at the game tonight as an opportunity to put points on the board. This new Champions League format is still taking shape so there’s no telling what a good total is. For that reason, picking up wins where we can will be essential.
Given our injuries, I don’t think the manager will have the luxury of too much rotation but, should it be going our way early enough, it would be nice to see some minutes shared around. It’s a difficult road ahead in these next few weeks and any chance for a breather for the likes of Rice, Gabriel and Havertz should be seized upon.
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