Arsenal gem Ethan Nwaneri is now the youngest player in Premier League history, so HITC Sport looks into some of the league’s biggest moments that are older than the Hale Ender.
Mikel Arteta afforded the Gunners product his top-flight bow as the Emirates Stadium side beat Brentford 3-0 on Sunday. Nwaneri entered the Gtech Community Stadium action as a 92nd-minute substitute for Fabio Vieira to earn his debut at just 15 years and 181 days old.
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Harvey Elliott of Liverpool previously the held record, having played in the Premier League for Fulham in May 2019 at 16 years and 30 days. He took the honour from Matthew Briggs, who played for Fulham at Middlesbrough in 2007 at 16 years, two months and seven days.
Nwaneri caught Arteta’s eye with his performances in Arsenal’s Under-18 team and in U16 action for England. The midfielder now has around 450 days to find the back of the net in a Premier League game to get James Vaughan’s record as the division’s youngest goalscorer.
Vaughan fired his first goal for Everton at home to Crystal Palace in April 2005 at 16 years and 270 days. The effort pipped James Milner’s first Leeds United hit against Sunderland in 2002 at 16 years and 356 days and Wayne Rooney’s first with Everton (16 years, 360 days).
Rooney’s scorching volley against Arsenal at Goodison Park two months before Milner’s hit is among the biggest Premier League moments that Nwaneri – who was born on March 21, 2007 – was not alive to witness. So, HITC Sport looks at what other big events he missed…
First Premier League game among biggest moments Nwaneri not alive to witness
Naturally, with the midfielder not even being 16 yet, Nwaneri was not alive to witness the formation of the Premier League and the division’s first fixtures. The English top-flight was reformed for the 1992/93 season with 22 teams breaking away from the Football League.
Nine games kicked off at 15:00 on August 15, 1992 to begin the new era for the top-flight in England. While Liverpool visited Nottingham Forest for the first televised fixture on the 16th, and Manchester City would later host Queens Park Rangers on Monday, August 17.
Arsenal were one of the sides to enter the first Premier League season, and remain one of the six ever-presents with Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners ended the 1992/93 campaign in 10th with 15 wins during 42 games.
Manchester United win first Premier League title among moments Nwaneri missed
Manchester United winning the first Premier League title is also, naturally, among the top moments Nwaneri was not alive to witness. The Red Devils won the 1992/93 title with 84 points from 24 wins and 12 draws, to pip Aston Villa on 74 points and Norwich City on 72.
Eric Cantona banned for nine months after kicking a fan in January 1995
Eric Cantona could steal the headlines with his work on the pitch but in January 1995, the France icon’s moment of madness earned him the spotlight along with a nine-month ban.
The striker was trudging his way back to the dressing room at Selhurst Park after a red card for a tussle with Crystal Palace defender Richard Shaw. Chaos then ensued as Cantona was walking along the touchline as he launched into a kung-fu kick aimed at an Eagles fan.
The supporter had been berating Cantona all game from behind the advertising boards. He would get a nine-month ban from the Football Association for all football-related activities, including reserve games. France also stripped the 45-cap Marseille native of the captaincy.
Blackburn Rovers won Premier League title in 1994/95 on final day
Blackburn Rovers emerged triumphant from a final day decider during May 1995 to lift the first Premier League title not won by Manchester United – who sealed four of the first five.
The Ewood Park natives visited Liverpool on the final day of the season holding a two point advantage over the Red Devils. But the Lancashire outfit could not finish the job, as Kenny Dalglish’s men fell to a 2-1 loss at Anfield through a 90th-minute Jamie Redknapp free-kick.
Manchester United were still drawing 1-1 at West Ham United when the full-time whistle wrang on Merseyside. So, the Old Trafford natives threw everything they could at a last-minute winner for another title, but Ludek Miklosko came to Blackburn Rovers’ rescue.
Kevin Keegan’s famous ‘I will love it’ rant as Newcastle pushed for the title
Kevin Keegan returned to Newcastle United to manage the club he once played for in 1992 and with it, the Entertainers were born. His brand of attacking football with marauding full-backs, flowing moves, incisive passing and icons like Andy Cole made the Toon formidable.
His work in the dugout also saved the Magpies from relegation into the third-tier before a rise to the top of the Premier League table. While in 1995/96, Keegan’s Newcastle pushed Manchester United down to the wire for the title as tensions rose with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson got under Keegan’s skin through comments he made hinting that sides like Leeds and Nottingham Forrest were not putting up as much of a fight against the Toon as they were his Red Devils squad. And with them, stoked the fire for one of the most iconic rants.
“No, no… when you do that with footballers, like he said about Leeds, and when you do things like that about a man like Stuart Pearce, I’ve kept really quiet, but I’ll tell you something, he went down in my estimation when he said that,” Keegan told Sky Sports.
“We have not resorted to that. But I’ll tell you, you can tell him now if you’re watching it, we’re still fighting for this title, and he’s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. And… and… I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them, love it!”
Beckham found the back of the Wimbledon net from halfway line in 1996
David Beckham made Premier League history in August 1996 when the Manchester United midfielder scored from the halfway line against Wimbledon. He stole the headlines on the opening day and made a name for himself at 21 after spotting Neil Sullivan off of his line.
Wayne ‘he’s supposed to be 16’ Rooney scored screamer against Arsenal
Rooney left Arsene Wenger in shock in October 2002 when the would-be England all-time top-goalscorer broke through at Everton with a screamer against Arsenal. The forward got the ball with 28 seconds left of the match, and he let rip a curling finish from 30-yards out.
The audacious shot arced over David Seaman and nestled in off the crossbar to seal victory for Everton. After which, Wenger said of the then-£80-a-week forward who had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes, via The Guardian at the time: “He’s supposed to be 16.”
Wenger added: “[Michael] Owen’s a complete striker, but I didn’t see him play at 16. At that age, Rooney is already a complete footballer. The guy can play. He’s the best English Under-20 I’ve seen since I came here [to manage Arsenal in 1996].”
Arsenal Invincibles made remarkable Premier League history in 2003/04
Arsenal sealed their third Premier League title in 2003/04 with one of the most remarkable moments in the division’s history. Under Wenger, the Gunners went an entire league term without tasting a single defeat to claim the crown on 90 points from 26 wins and 12 draws.
The north Londoners’ started their Invincibles run in May 2003 with two wins to close out the previous season. It would not be until October 2004 before Arsenal fell to another loss when Manchester United edged a 2-0 win at Old Trafford to end a 49-game unbeaten run.
Delia Smith unleashed ‘let’s be ‘avin you!’ half-time rant at Norwich fans
Delia Smith is a renowned celebrity chef and presenter, but has owned shares in Norwich since November 1996, too. Along with her husband, Michael Wynn Jones, she remains the Canaries’ joint-majority shareholder. While in 2005, made her voice heard at Carrow Road.
Norwich were struggling upon their return to the Premier League in 2004/05 after 10 years out of the top-flight. Relegation already seemed like a certainty by the turn of the year, so spurning a two-goal first-half lead against Manchester City got the TV personality riled up.
So, at half-time, Smith stormed onto the pitch to urge on the 20,000+ fans in attendance. “A message for the best football supporters in the world,” she cried, via 90min “We need a 12th-man here. Where are you? Where are you?! Let’s be ‘avin you! Come on!”
Norwich went on to lose the game 2-3 and would ultimately return to the Championship in 19th-place, between Crystal Palace and Southampton, just a point from safety. The Carrow Road natives won just seven of their 38 fixtures in 2004/05, whilst also conceding 77 goals.
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