Mikel Arteta reveals reason why Ethan Nwaneri is destined for key Arsenal role
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted he is ready to throw rising star Ethan Nwaneri into a greater first team role.
Arteta has opted for caution on the 17-year-old with his four Premier League appearances this season all coming off the bench.
However, another impressive EFL Cup performance from the teenager has impressed Arteta, after he netted his third goal of the tournament in the 3-0 Round of 16 win away at Preston North End.
Arteta fast tracked Nwaneri into first team training at the start of the 2022/23 season, after receiving rave reviews on his progress, and he has remained with the main squad since then.
After replacing Fabio Vieira in a Premier League game in September 2022, he became the youngest-ever player to appear in the competition, at just 15 years and 181 days old.
That broke the EPL record, and the English top-flight record, held by Sunderland's Derek Forster since 1964.
The Hale End graduate is now edging closer to his first Premier League start and Arteta has revealed why the time is now right for him ahead of a crunch run of games.
"Ethan Nwaneri is showing every day what kind of skills he has. His teammates trust him, as they give him the ball, that's a great sign", Arteta said after the win at Preston.
"He’s a big talent, with the right attitude. We have some player there, I'm sure of that!"
Arteta is expected to continue with a calm approach over Nwaneri, ahead of an EPL tip to Newcastle United on November 2 followed by vital away games at Inter Milan and Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League and domestic action respectively, before the international break.
Henry
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