Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has opened up about the growing temptation to give Ethan Nwaneri more game time, following the youngster's eye-catching performances recently.
Despite his obvious talent, Arteta remains cautious in his approach, carefully balancing Nwaneri's development and expectations.
So, why is Arteta “always tempted” to hand the 17-year-old more minutes, and what could this mean for his future at the club?
The rising star displayed his remarkable talent once again on Saturday, scoring a goal as Arsenal eased to a commanding win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.
Nwaneri’s Premier League potential: A star in the making at Arsenal
While Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey put the Gunners ahead, Nwaneri sealed the 3-0 win in the 86th minute, shortly after replacing Martin Ødegaard.
Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta expressed his admiration for Ethan Nwaneri’s composure when he was given minutes in place of the injured Odegaard.
He highlighted how, in such a situation, Nwaneri immediately made an impact by taking a touch, driving forward, and nearly scoring.
Arteta acknowledged his responsibility in nurturing Nwaneri’s development step by step, referring to it as building a solid foundation one “brick” at a time.
He emphasised the importance of managing Nwaneri’s expectations and physical load to ensure steady progress, noting that while rapid success isn’t guaranteed, the process is crucial for long-term success.
Arteta acknowledges Nwaneri's impressive achievement so far but stresses that his playing time will be managed carefully.
“I am always tempted. I think he’s the second-youngest player for the club to score in the Premier League. It’s giving us all the reason, and today is another reason to put him there, but that’s when I play him and not somebody else. It’s step-by-step, I would say.”
The young Nigerian has played in nine matches, scoring four goals, including a brace against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup, with an average of 19 minutes per game.
