Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that Gunners players were urging him to bring teenager Ethan Nwaneri on against West Ham United.
What a day for Arsenal.
Just weeks after losing at home to West Ham United, Arsenal exerted revenge in brutal fashion, hammering David Moyes’ side 6-0 in East London.
William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard had Arsenal 4-0 up by half-time in a simply stunning display.
Saka added number five before Declan Rice haunted his former club with an exceptional long-range strike, adding gloss to the win for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta comments on Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal were even able to bring on teenager Ethan Nwaneri as they coasted through a fairly comfortable second half.
Nwaneri hit the headlines back in 2022, coming off the bench to make his Premier League debut against Brentford at the age of just 15.
Arsenal fans haven’t seen Nwaneri in first-team action since that day though, even if he has been around the first-team picture for training and matchday squads.
Nwaneri finally made his second Premier League appearance today, coming on with just 13 minutes of normal time to play.
Mikel Arteta has now told Football London that Nwaneri has the absolute trust of his Arsenal teammates despite being only 16.
Arteta even claims that Arsenal players on the bench were whispering towards Arteta, urging him to bring the teenager on for the final stages.
The Spaniard feels that his kind of thing is ‘nice’ and just goes to show what Arsenal’s more experienced players think of Nwaneri.
There is something you have to earn in your team and that’s the trust of your teammates. I had players on the bench whispering to bring him in which is nice,” said Arteta.
Nwaneri’s two Premier League outings coming 18 months apart may look a little odd but Arteta will be taking things very carefully with the teenager.
The time for more appearances will come but Nwaneri will be loving playing a part in a huge Arsenal victory this afternoon.
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