Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained his surprise decision to give 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri his senior debut for the Gunners in Sunday’s Premier League game at Brentford.
Nwaneri was introduced in stoppage time of the Gunners’ 3-0 win at Brentford on Sunday, becoming both the club’s and the Premier League’s youngest-ever player.
And Arteta admits to having a special feeling about Nwaneri after watching him in training hence his decision to give him his senior debut.
“It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy, I really liked what I saw,” he told reporters.
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“I had information from Per and Edu, he trained with us a couple of times. He had to come with us because of Martin’s injury and I had that feeling yesterday that if the opportunity could come, I would do it. He deserves it.”
Arsenal returned to the top in the league table courtesy the comfortable win against Brentford.
William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus gave Arsenal a 2-0 first half lead before Fabio Vieira added the third goal in the second 45 minutes.
Nwaneri joined up with Arsenal at nine years-old. By the age of 14 he was already playing for their under-18 side. Predominantly he plays as a midfielder.
Nwaneri started the 2022–23 season playing for Arsenal under-18s but such was his form he was progressed up to the Arsenal under-21s.
He joined the Arsenal first team for training in September and went on to make his senior debut against Brentford.
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2 Comments
l wonder if this kid is of Nigeria extraction? Can someone confirm?
Yes he is, but already played for three lions u17 and from the look of things now he is and English player.