Mikel Arteta hails Ethan Nwaneri’s performance after 17-year-old filled in for Bukayo Saka against Brentford – and hints youngster could save Arsenal millions in the transfer market
- Ethan Nwaneri made his first Premier League start for Arsenal at Brentford
- Mikel Arteta was full of praise for the 17-year-old Hale End Academy product
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta toasted Ethan Nwaneri after the 17-year-old came on for the injured Bukayo Saka against Brentford.
The talented teenager made his full Premier League debut in the 3-1 win at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday evening.
He didn’t look out of place either as he was confident with the ball and his corner led to Arsenal’s second goal through Mikel Merino.
With Saka out until at least March following hamstring surgery, there is speculation that the Gunners could hit the transfer market for a right winger to hold on to their Premier League title.
But Arteta was completely satisfied with the performances of his academy graduate.
“Really well (he played),” Arteta told Sky Sports. During training he gave us all the right reasons.
Mikel Arteta praised Ethan Nwaneri after the youngster made his full debut for Arsenal
17-year-old Nwaneri put in a fearless performance against Brentford, with Bukayo Saka coming off injured
Arteta said Nwaneri was playing ‘really well’ and said he would perform even if they sign someone else at right wing
‘We could sign a player from any country, but he would play. He is a youth academy player and he has to play because he deserves it.”
He later added: “Part of that development is patience, dealing with frustration, dealing with expectations, because you expect everything to happen as quickly as the things that came before, and that’s not the case.
“So now we’re building it up. He has already played a lot of games, a lot of minutes for us, the age he is and he fully deserves that.’
Nwaneri has become a regular in the Arsenal squad this season, but until Wednesday evening had to make do with cameos from the bench.
Brentford has fond memories of Nwaneri, who came off the bench at Gtech in September 2022 and became the youngest ever Premier League player at 15 years and 181 days.
Arsenal only gave him one chance to shine last season, but he has come into his own this season and is once again proving to be a gem of the Hale End academy.
He has proven his goalscoring potential in the Carabao Cup, striking twice against Bolton in the third round and scoring a top-corner strike in the next phase at Preston.
Sky Sports pundit Karen Carney was effusive in her praise for Nwaneri after watching him shine against Thomas Frank’s side.
Nwaneri has been regularly gaining playing time this season and struck twice against Preston in October
“He’s brave, he’s bold, for someone so young, he nods and drops his shoulder. Go do what you want, be brave, be positive, hire people,” she said.
‘He was the key in the corner. For a young man he was outstanding, positive, a joy to watch, and I can’t believe how young he is.’
