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Mikel Arteta says Ethan Nwaneri keeps doing two things at Arsenal that are really ‘surprising’

Shamanth Jayaram

Sat 22 February 2025 7:55, UK

Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri has been the talk of the town over the last few months.

The 17-year-old was always viewed as a terrific talent by those at Arsenal, but he has now earned the respect of everyone in the footballing world.

Nwaneri has become a regular starter for Arsenal on the right wing. It’s never easy to fill Bukayo Saka’s shoes, but the teenager has done that magnificently.

Arteta has watched Nwaneri in training every day over the last two years, and the Arsenal boss is fully aware of his talents.

But, even is amazed by how quickly the youngster has developed.

Mikel Arteta reveals what is ‘surprising’ about Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri

There are very few players in the history of the game who come into the first team and become regulars at the age of 17, especially at a big club.

Lamine Yamal of Barcelona is the most recent example, and Nwaneri is now following in his footsteps.

The Arsenal youngster has only started eight games in all competitions this season, but he has scored seven goals and provided an assist.

He hasn’t looked fazed at all, even when he has played against the best players, and most of his performances have been breathtaking.

Arteta has admitted that Nwaneri’s progression has been faster than anyone at Arsenal expected, and he has revealed the two things that have surprised him – confidence and decision-making.

He said, as per the : “It (Nwaneri’s development) is probably much faster than we all expected.

“I think what is surprising is probably the confidence and his decision-making, especially in ball possession.

“The risks that he takes, the initiative that he takes and how clever he is about ‘ok, what is the situation? If somebody is more open’. I love that in a player and now he needs to do it consistently, every three days.”

Nwaneri is so close to breaking an all-time record

Nwaneri has only played 790 minutes of football for Arsenal this season, but he has been really efficient.

The youngster’s decision-making in the final third has been really impressive, and the way he finds solutions in and around the box has been magnificent too.

If Nwaneri manages to score two more goals in the next month, he will match Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen’s record for most goals scored by a player of a Premier League club before turning 18.

Nwaneri’s 18th birthday is on the 21st of March. Arsenal are scheduled to play six games from now until then – four in the Premier League and two in the Champions League.

Three goals in six games is very achievable, and we think Nwaneri will end up breaking Owen and Rooney’s record in the coming weeks.