Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been notorious for giving less attention to his academy stars and prefer signing young players from abroad.
Although he trusted a few known Hale Enders like Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith-Rowe, many others have failed to transition to the senior team.
The club’s academy boosts several wonderkids like Myles Lewis-Skelly, Charles Sagoe Jr, and Amario Cozier-Dubbery. Recently they allowed their talented star Charlie Platino to move to Deportivo La Coruna for just £1million which was shocking.
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Amid all these names, the manager is an ardent fan of English sensation Ethan Nwaneri. The youngster became the youngest player in Premier League history after making a 13-minute cameo against Brentford in 2022.
Since then he has handled the pressure tag well, with notable performances for Arsenal’s U18 side. He was a part of England’s U17 side in the Euros and he scored goals against top nations like France and Italy.
🌟 Ethan Nwaneri Preseaon Stats – Age 17 🔴⚪️
🕒 176 minutes played
🎯 70/80 accurate passes, (87.5%) 10 passes into final third, 3 chances created ⚔️ 4/4 tackles won, 1 interception, 4 recoveries
🏃🏾♂️4/5 successful dribbles
💪 12/19 ground duels won (63%), 2/2 aerial duels won… pic.twitter.com/yqV8EY5Uo3— The Soccer Life (@TheSoccerLifee) August 12, 2024
He was given a chance to showcase his skills by the manager during the preseason games. Nwaneri stole the show against Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester United. The Spanish boss hailed the No.53 as he said:
“It’s always in the hands of the players, so show what you can do. Show that ambition, that determination, that quality and things will happen naturally.”
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Many expected that the club might send Nwaneri on loan to aid his development. However, his fine form has helped him secure a place in the first team for the new PL season.
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But there is another player who got his chances slashed in this process. The Gunners have decided to let Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira leave on loan to his former club, FC Porto. Although there is no obligation to buy included in this deal, the transfer will disappoint the fans.
The midfielder joined the North London outfit in 2022 and has since made 49 appearances (28 goal contributions). These are great numbers to boost since the player hasn’t been a regular presence in the starting XI and he delivered whenever the manager called him out.
His absence will vacate the No. 21 shirt, and we will miss seeing him score long-range bangers in the Premier League. This move also highlights the fact that Arteta is willing to place his trust in a younger alternative.
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Nwaneri was present on the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the opening-day clash. If we are patient enough, he might get minutes against easier teams.
The 17-year-old is a creative lad. The midfielder can dictate play from deep, place balls over the top of the channel, and burst past multiple defenders at once.
We won’t call him the next ‘Cesc Fabregas’, but both players had similar starts until now (the legendary star debuted when he was 16).
Keeping these tall claims aside, the Gunners should be excited to have a great talent in their hands. Arteta must make sure that this player doesn’t bite the dust like the rest. He is a star in the making.
