Folarin Balogun has shared that he ‘noticed’ Ethan Nwaneri training with Arsenal ‘a few times’ and how the club’s u-18 manager has told him that the 15-year-old has a ‘bright future’, as he told Sky Sports News.
On Sunday, Nwaneri etched his name into the Premier League history books by becoming the youngest ever player in the competition’s history at 15 years and 181 days when he came off the bench during Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Brentford.
It was a historical moment for the attacking midfielder and a call by Mikel Arteta the highly-rated teenage star and his family will never forget.
Over the years, Arsenal have produced some top, top talents, with some thriving in the first-team right now in Bukayo Saka and others making a name for themselves abroad – Balogun.
This isn’t just a spur-of-a-moment thing from Arteta or Arsenal, but a message being sent to the rest of the academy that if you are good enough, then it doesn’t matter how old you are.
Nonetheless, Balogun has shared an insight into Nwaneri, the record-breaker previously training with Arsenal and what coaches have said.
“I noticed he trained with us a few times,” said Balogun. “I spoke to the ’18’s manager. He told me that ‘he’s a really good player’ and he said that ‘he has a bright future’.
“I definitely had an eye out for him, then it was just really good to see making his debut. You hope that he can carry on impressing and staying in the first-team.
“There have been a lot of players in the past who have kicked on really early. The likes of Reiss Nelson and Bukayo (Saka). They made their first-team really early.
“Bukayo I think made his debut at 17. I am sure Arsenal have a plan for him. I am sure if he keeps his head down and works hard, then he will see through that.”
ARTETA SHOULD BE TRUSTED
Nwaneri might be the youngest of the lot, but Arteta has already proven at Arsenal that he can nurture its young rising stars.
There have been some who have ridiculously criticised Arteta’s call to hand a 15-year-old debut, like imagine seeing the negative out of that?
He’s not putting him front and centre of Arsenal’s plans or telling the world they are relying on him to secure Champions League football this season.
But rewarding the young kid for a few strong sessions at Arsenal by handing him some deserved minutes on the Premier League stage.
Harvey Elliott is the player’s record Nwaneri has broken and the last time everyone checked, he’s not doing so bad after all is he?!
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