Arsenal

Mikel Arteta reveals 17-year-old talent "very close" to Arsenal first team

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 04 April 2024

Mikel Arteta reveals that Ethan Nwaneri is "very close" to breaking into the Arsenal first team after the 17-year-old signed his first professional Gunners contract.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has professed that Ethan Nwaneri is "very close" to becoming a regular fixture in the first team after signing his first professional deal.

The England youth international was still under schoolboy terms when he became the Premier League's youngest-ever player in September 2022, coming off the bench in a 3-0 triumph over Brentford.

Nwaneri was just 15 years and 181 days old when he made his bow at the Gtech Community Stadium, overtaking Harvey Elliott as the youngest man to turn out in the competition.

Arsenal tied Nwaneri down to scholarship terms last year to ward off growing interest in his services, with both Manchester City and Chelsea reported to be keeping tabs on his displays.

On the back of making his second first-team appearance in February's 6-0 thrashing of West Ham United and continuing to shine at youth level, the 17-year-old put pen to paper on his first professional contract towards the end of last month.

Exciting times ahead...

Ethan Nwaneri has signed his first professional contract at the club! ✍️
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) March 28, 2024

Arteta urges Nwaneri to take opportunity with both hands

Regarded as one of the brightest teenage prospects in the Premier League, Arteta expressed his joy for Nwaneri before Wednesday's 2-0 win over Luton Town and revealed that the teenager is on the brink of promotion to the senior squad for good.

"I was really happy [for Nwaneri signing a professional contract]. He had a great day, he had all his family and important people around him," the Daily Mail quotes Arteta as saying.

"A really proud moment to see another academy graduate signing his pro contract. He is very close to the first team. The opportunity is there, now he needs to take it."

Nwaneri did not make the Arsenal squad for their midweek win over Luton, but the England Under-17 international has gone from strength to strength at academy level with seven goals and two assists in nine Premier League 2 matches for the Under-21s.

During Arsenal's short-lived run in the FA Youth Cup, Nwaneri also struck a brilliant five goals in a 7-1 third-round crushing of Crewe Alexandra, before netting the Gunners' consolation when they were defeated by the same scoreline against Liverpool.

Which academy prospects could follow in Nwaneri's footsteps?

Amario Cozier-Duberry in action for Arsenal in December 2022 © Reuters

The Premier League's youngest-ever player is just one of several highly-regarded talents hailing from Arsenal's Hale End, which has already helped to produce Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Serge Gnabry among others.

Two of Nwaneri's fellow teenagers are also being tipped for bright futures in North London, including Amario Cozier-Duberry, an 18-year-old winger with five goals and four assists to his name from 13 Premier League 2 outings this term.

Cozier-Duberry is yet to make his competitive Arsenal debut and sees his deal expire this summer, but the Gunners are working on an extension amid interest from numerous clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.

Seventeen-year-old defensive midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly is also making waves at Under-21 level and has been named as a substitute in this season's Premier League and Champions League, as has fledgling defender Reuell Walters.

Dropping further down the age levels, 16-year-old striker Chido Obi has caught the eye for Jack Wilshere's Under-18s, finding the back of the net 12 times in just 11 Premier League age-group appearances in 2023-24, including back-to-back four-goal hauls against Crystal Palace and Fulham.