Nketiah hoping to star against Manchester United after last season's heroics
Perhaps it is a sign of the increased expectations placed upon Arsenal due to Mikel Arteta's good work, but despite taking seven points from their first three Premier League games, questions are being asked of the manager's decision-making.
The consensus appears to be that Arteta, the most high profile of Pep Guardiola's proteges, is overthinking things.
The use of Thomas Partey in the back four and selection of Leandro Trossard over the in-form Eddie Nketiah against Fulham last weekend have raised eyebrows, with Gary Neville urging the Gunners to "sort themselves out and get back into a shape that suits them".
That sentiment was shared by Paul Merson, who told Sky Sports: "I do worry for Arsenal. Arteta is changing things around.
"I just find it complicated. This experiment all the time... you've got to trust your players. Why didn't Nketiah start against Fulham?"
Nketiah has begun the season well, scoring in the win over Nottingham Forest and winning the crucial penalty against Crystal Palace.
The 24-year-old also scored off the bench against Fulham, with Arteta appearing to recognise his error in starting Trossard when he replaced the Belgium internatiobal with Nketiah at half-time.
But that was the second time in four games that Arteta has chosen a false nine to lead his attack instead of Nketiah, following the use of Havertz in that position in the Community Shield against Manchester City.
With Gabriel Jesus missing the start of the season due to injury, Nketiah surely spied an opportunity to stake his claim in the opening fixtures. Instead, he has started only 50 per cent of Arsenal's matches.
However, Arteta has been keen to publicly praise Nketiah this month, saying after the Fulham game that he "looks a real threat" and
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