You have to do something special to become the youngest player ever at a club with such a rich history of providing opportunities to talented youngsters.
Yet that is exactly what Ethan Nwaneri achieved when he came on as a substitute for Arsenal against Brentford in September 2022 at the age of 15 years and 181 days, also becoming the youngest ever Premier League player.
Two years on, after a varied development programme, Nwaneri, still only 17, is ready to seize his chance and become a star for Arsenal, with the injury to captain Martin Odegaard likely to increase his chances of playing time.
Nwaneri is a modest, hard-working attacking midfielder and has previously played as a winger or striker. He has excellent control and passing, excellent overview and also enjoys going for goal himself. If there was one criticism of Nwaneri, it might be that he sometimes holds the ball a little too long, but his all-round game is of a very high standard, including his defensive contributions.
Nwaneri officially signed for Arsenal as an under-9 player in 2015, with Jack Wilshere among those who welcomed him to the club. Many years later, Wilshere would briefly coach Nwaneri at under-18 level.
Ethan Nwaneri became Arsenal’s youngest player at 15 years and 181 days when he came on as a substitute during their clash with Brentford in September 2022
Nwaneri, now 17, is ready to seize his chance and become a star at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is at the point where he can no longer ignore the promise that Nwaneri is showing
During his time at Arsenal’s famous Hale End academy, there was always a buzz around Nwaneri and fellow midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly. Both players often played above their age group and it was clear that they seemed destined for greatness. The pair have been good friends throughout their Arsenal journey and both now find themselves very close to the first team.
The moment Nwaneri first really came into the spotlight came in May 2021, when he scored on his debut for Arsenal’s Under-18s team in a win over Reading at the age of just 14. Despite it being a younger Arsenal team than usual, Nwaneri still stood out as a player with precocious talent.
For the 2022-23 season, Arsenal made the decision to fully integrate Nwaneri into the Under-18 squad, despite him still being on a schoolboy contract. He exceeded even those expectations, making his Under-21 debut shortly after and subsequently making first-team history at Brentford.
During that season, Nwaneri developed into a key player for the Under-21 team and also helped the Under-18 team reach the final of the FA Youth Cup.
What was always evident with Nwaneri was his belief in his own abilities and his constant drive to improve himself. He realised how much hard work was required to achieve his ultimate goal: breaking through at Arsenal.
The club gave Nwaneri a specialised development plan. They wanted to keep the hype around him under control, but also ensure he continued to grow rapidly. This involved a mix of training with the first team, appearances for the Under-21s and occasional appearances for the Under-18s.
Nwaneri was linked with a move away from Arsenal last year when it came time for him to decide whether to stay and sign a scholarship and professional contract. There was a lot of interest from clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool but he turned them down and eventually signed his first professional contract when he turned 17 in March this year.
Towards the end of last season it was clear that Nwaneri had taken a step further in his development, regularly dominating under-21 matches and making important decisions even faster than before.
Nwaneri played a starring role in Arsenal’s North London derby win over Tottenham last weekend
What is clear about Nwaneri is his belief in his own abilities and his constant desire to improve
But now the point has been reached where even Mikel Arteta, a manager who usually relies on a core of experienced players, can no longer ignore the immense promise that Nwaneri shows.
And Arteta isn’t the only senior figure to be impressed. After the youngster’s cameo from the bench in a 6-0 win over West Ham in February, Arteta admitted: ‘The players on the bench were whispering to me to bring Ethan on, which is great to hear.’
There have been times in the early stages of the season when Arsenal’s play has lacked some dynamism, most notably due to the injury to chief organiser Odegaard. But Nwaneri will provide a boost in that regard and is expected to benefit greatly from playing alongside experienced players with whom he is on a similar wavelength.
It should also be noted that Nwaneri is physically strong for his age, and his recent appearance as a substitute in the North London derby showed that he is not afraid to take on challenges, even against much older opponents.
Although his promotion to the first team has not yet been officially confirmed, Nwaneri is now very closely involved with the first selection. This is so much so that he has not yet played for the Under 21 this season.
Since becoming involved with the first team, Nwaneri has developed a close bond with Bukayo Saka, who is the perfect inspiration after his own journey from Hale End to the big stage. Saka’s focus and level-headedness is an example to many young players and Nwaneri possesses similar attributes.
Arsenal have produced players such as Tony Adams, David Rocastle, Jack Wilshere and Ashley Cole, and Nwaneri is also looking to become a big success. There is still a long way to go, but insiders at the club hope he can have a long and successful career at the club.
Nwaneri has developed a close bond with Bukayo Saka and is learning from the Arsenal star
Nwaneri pictured with Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly during a training session this week
While the trip to champions Manchester City on Sunday may be too far for a first professional start, Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third round clash at home to Bolton Wanderers looks set to be the perfect opportunity for Nwaneri to show what he’s made of.
If he impresses, more opportunities could follow, especially as long as Odegaard remains on the sidelines.
Internationally, Nwaneri has also made encouraging progress, playing and scoring for England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 level. Should he continue to make strides at Arsenal, more international recognition is expected to follow.
Off the pitch, Nwaneri is known for his respect for others and has often taken the time to interact with fans after Under-21 matches. Despite his enormous potential, he remains down to earth and shows no signs of getting carried away by the increased attention around him.
An example of his lack of ego is that Nwaneri still calls himself an ‘Arsenal U18’ player on Instagram, when in reality he is long past that level.
Over the last few years, Nwaneri has gradually improved his all-round game and has come closer to the first team. Now is the time for him to get a lasting chance to impress and show what he is capable of.