Mikel Arteta says Ethan Nwaneri’s time is now

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Mikel Arteta has kept a close eye on Ethan Nwaneri for years, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash the young talent. Nwaneri, now 17 years old, has been on Arteta’s radar since he was just 12, and the Arsenal boss believes that his time has finally come. 

Fans of Arsenal must be in such good spirits after that five-star performance against Bolton Wanderers. They have started the season quite strong again, and have gotten an impressive four points from a possible six away at two of the big six (Man City and Spurs). However, the season is still quite young, and the fans will have a huge role in powering their team to success, it starts by purchasing Arsenal tickets from an online resale store.

After an impressive performance in the Carabao Cup, where the 17-year-old Nwaneri scored two goals against Bolton, the young star is now on the verge of making his full Premier League debut.

The young star has been on Arteta’s radar for some time 

Arteta first heard about Nwaneri shortly after becoming Arsenal’s manager in 2019. During his first week in charge, he asked Arsenal’s Under 16 coach, Dan Micciche, about a young player who was making waves by playing with kids much older than him. Even at just 12 years old, Nwaneri was showing signs of greatness, and Arteta wanted to know more. “I hear you have got a player for me,” Arteta said. That player was none other than Ethan Nwaneri.

The young midfielder had been impressing coaches at Arsenal’s Hale End academy since he joined at the age of nine. By 14, he was playing for the Under 18s, and at 15, he was already turning out for the Under 21s. It was not long before Nwaneri made his Premier League debut in September 2022, becoming the youngest player to feature in the league at just 15 years old.

Since joining Arsenal’s academy, Nwaneri’s progress has been nothing short of extraordinary. Despite his young age, he has consistently played above his level, showing maturity and skill far beyond his years. His ability to control the ball, move through tackles, and keep his composure on the field has drawn comparisons to some of football’s biggest names, including Phil Foden, Cesc Fabregas, and Jack Wilshere.

In March 2024, after his 17th birthday, Nwaneri signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, despite interest from big clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City. For Nwaneri, leaving Arsenal was never an option. He had grown up at the club, and the idea of playing for the team he loved was too good to pass up.

Nwaneri’s talent was on full display during Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Bolton in the Carabao Cup third round. Starting for the first team for the first time, he scored twice, with two well-taken goals. After the match, Arteta praised Nwaneri, saying, “The boy is ready.” This looks like a vote of confidence on the young player.

With Arsenal facing a series of injuries in midfield, including players like Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, Nwaneri’s chance to break into the first team seems perfectly timed. 

“He is improving daily, Mikel Arteta added. They respect him. You can tell he is playing without pressure, with confidence, with a way of making decisions that tell you that the boy is ready at this level. Today he had a really strong performance and I’m happy to see that.

A lot of positives to take from it, first of all, the performance and then the way we scored the goals. We gave minutes, deserved minutes to a lot of first-team players that needed them. As well we had very important debuts that makes us proud.”

Wilshere and Odegaard have been key to his progress 

Growing up in the Hale End academy, he was surrounded by top coaches and players who helped guide him along the way. One of his early mentors was none other than Jack Wilshere, who coached Nwaneri during his time with the Under 18s. Wilshere, who is a former Arsenal midfielder himself, understood the pressures that come with being a young player in the spotlight and worked closely with Nwaneri to help him navigate those challenges.

Even Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, has taken Nwaneri under his wing and has been a guiding figure for Nwaneri, helping him adjust to the pressures of first-team football. There is even talk that Nwaneri could one day take over from Odegaard as Arsenal’s talisman and become a regular.

Despite all the hype surrounding him, Nwaneri has remained grounded. Known for his quiet and down-to-earth nature, he prefers to let his football do the talking. Before the match against Bolton, Nwaneri led his fellow academy graduates out onto the pitch, shaking hands with club executives and soaking up the atmosphere. But once the game began, it was all business. He scored in the 37th and 49th minutes, displaying his attacking instinct for goal and his ability to stay cool under pressure to finish calmly.

What is even more impressive is that Nwaneri has managed to balance his football career with his schoolwork. Along with fellow academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri often rushes from training to his schoolwork, ensuring that his education does not take a back seat despite his blossoming football career. 

Conclusion 

As Ethan Nwaneri stands on the brink of breaking into Arsenal’s first team, there is a sense of excitement about what the future holds for the young midfielder. English football has already started to take notice of his brilliance, with pundits and fans alike eagerly awaiting his full Premier League debut. 

With the injury to Martin Odegaard, he will surely be considered. Whether that will happen in the coming weeks, it remains to be seen. However, he is Mikel Arteta’s plans one way or the other. Though, given the Gunners’ hectic schedule over the coming weeks, it could yet be a possibility.

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