Arteta on Nwaneri: Time for the Young Midfielder to “Fly”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated that teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, who first appeared in the Premier League for the club at 15, has reached a point where it’s time “to see if he can fly.” The 17-year-old recently netted a remarkable goal during the 3-0 victory against Preston in the EFL Cup on Wednesday. This achievement came after he scored his initial senior goals in the preceding round’s 5-1 triumph over Bolton. Nwaneri has garnered significant attention since September 2022, when he made history as the youngest player to participate in the Premier League, coming on as a substitute against Brentford at 15 years and 181 days old. “It is rare to see a talent like this at 17, that’s true,” Arteta commented. He added, “When he made his debut in the Premier League there was a lot of talk about it. “We didn’t do it as a gift, we did it because we knew the pathway we wanted to build with him and we wanted to send him a really strong sign about how much we trust him and how much we wanted him to stay with us.”” The attacking midfielder has accumulated four substitute appearances in the Premier League. As demands for him to start a match intensify, Arteta has recognized the importance of Nwaneri continuing to face challenges. “The biggest thing is to push him and then when he is pushing you grab him from behind to make sure he is stable and protected. This talent you have to push him,” the Spaniard explained. He further stated, “Protection is necessary, keeping an eye on him, but he needs to see that he can go and fly and not cut his wings.”” “I can talk about how good he is right now and the position he is at, at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, sums up really well the level he has. “What happens in the future is going to depend on him and how much he wants it. At the moment he wants it a lot and he is surrounded by the right people. “The crystal ball to see what he is going to be in two or three years, no. My prediction is going to be very positive.”” Arteta cited Bukayo Saka, an academy product of Arsenal and widely considered among Europe’s top wingers, as an inspiring example for players aiming to establish themselves. “That creates belief in the building, to all those in the academy and the young players that there is a clear pathway, that we are going to give them opportunities and if they earn it they will be treated like the rest,” Arteta concluded.