The season-defining Arsenal test facing Mikel Arteta over Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling | OneFootball

How Arteta manages the pair is going to be crucial in the title run-in

Nwaneri and Sterling are going through contrasting runs of form

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Arsenal are heading into a defining period in the title race and the onus is on Mikel Arteta to navigate them through it.

Arteta’s biggest headache is in attack, where injuries have left him with just three fit forwards for the next month.

Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling will now all have an important role to play and how Arteta manages them, both on and off the pitch, is crucial.

Nwaneri is flying high at the moment, playing with a level of freedom you would expect from someone who is 17 and enjoying his breakthrough season in the first team.

Nwaneri has been compared to Lionel Messi by TV pundit Joe Cole

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The teenager was the star of the show for Arsenal in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Leicester.

He was ranked No1 for Arsenal in that game when it came to crosses, pass completion, shots, successful dribbles and even tackles won.

Such was the level of Nwaneri’s performance, former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole compared him to Lionel Messi.

“You can't mark him because he can go both ways,” Cole said during his punditry on TNT Sports.

“These little touches he produces in and around the box, I don’t even want to say it - but it’s like Messi. I’ve said it.

“He plays with such confidence and he's a beautiful player. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have to protect him.”

Cole went on to add how he did not want to put pressure on Nwaneri’s shoulders and one of the challenges for Arteta will be managing the hype around his teen star.

Nwaneri is going to get a run in the side now and, if he is already being compared to Messi, then there is no telling where the praise may end.

The Arsenal teenager has a strong support network around him, especially his father Obi, who did extra training sessions with him when he was growing.

Nwaneri cites his father as one of the biggest influences on his career, along with the likes of former Arsenal Under-18s boss Jack Wilshere.

But Arteta will also have a key role to play now as the spotlight on Nwaneri gets bigger during the crunch point of the season.

Arteta’s man-management skills will be tested with Sterling, too.

In contrast to Nwaneri, the winger is going through a difficult time.

Sterling struggled against Leicester, failing to complete any dribbles or crosses before being taken off with 20 minutes to go.

It has proved to be a tough loan spell for the 30-year-old since he joined from Chelsea on deadline day last summer.

Sterling has had a difficult loan spell at Arsenal

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Sterling has started just nine games and only on two occasions have those starts come consecutively.

When he did get two starts in a row, he had to come off before half-time during the defeat at Bournemouth after William Saliba was sent off.

Sterling, understandably, looks short on confidence - but Arsenal need him now and Arteta must find a way to inspire the winger.

The pair have a good relationship after first working together at Manchester City, when Arteta was one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants.

Sterling enjoyed his best goalscoring years under Arteta and the two worked together regularly, doing individual sessions.

Sterling has proved a positive influence at Arsenal's training ground this season, in particular with the younger players who have valued being able to pick his brains.

Amid Sterling’s difficult season, it has been forgotten by some that he has won the Premier League four times and has more than 80 caps for England.

Arteta has routinely praised Sterling’s application in training and the hope is that can be reflected on the pitch now.

Perhaps a change in position could help, with Arteta referencing Sterling as an option through the middle as a ‘false nine’.

It is a role Sterling played at Manchester City on occasions and, after failing to impress out wide for Arsenal, such a switch may be worth a try given the Gunners lack a recognised striker right now.