Meet Nigerian-born 17-yr-old Nwaneri who scored twice for Arsenal

Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night courtesy of a mixture of youth and experience. One of the stand-out performers was Ethan Nwaneri who got his first goal for Arsenal in the first half before welcoming choruses of “he’s one of our […]

Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night courtesy of a mixture of youth and experience.

One of the stand-out performers was Ethan Nwaneri who got his first goal for Arsenal in the first half before welcoming choruses of “he’s one of our own” with his brace.

Supporters at Emirates Stadium liked what they saw, so much they began singing “Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own.”

“I’m buzzing,” he said after the match. “I’m so happy to have helped the team go through to the next round and just ready for whatever’s next.”

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“He’s improving daily,” Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach, said when quizzed about the youngster after the match. “They really respect him. You can tell he’s playing without pressure, with confidence, with a way of making decisions that tell you that the boy is ready at this level. Today he had a really strong performance and I’m happy to see that.”

Daily Trust highlights a few things you should know about this next Nigerian-eligible star to graduate from the Arsenal’s Hale End academy after Alex Iwobi and Bukayo Saka.

Early life
Ethan Chidiebere Nwaneri was born on 21 March 2007 in Enfield, London.

He attended St John’s Senior School in Enfield. He is of Igbo-Nigerian descent.

Club career
Nwaneri joined Arsenal at nine years old. By the age of 14, he was already playing for their under-18 side. Predominantly, he plays as a midfielder.

Nwaneri started the 2022–23 season playing for Arsenal’s under-18s, but he quickly advanced to the club’s under-21 side.

Having made a sole appearance in the 2022–23 Premier League 2, he joined the first team for training in September and made his first senior matchday squad on 18 September when he was named as a substitute for the Premier League match against Brentford.

Coming off the bench to replace Fábio Vieira in second-half stoppage time, he became the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League at the age of 15 years and 181 days – breaking the record previously held by Harvey Elliott, and the all-time English top-flight record held since August 1964 by former Sunderland goalkeeper Derek Forster, by three days.

He also became Arsenal’s youngest-ever player in any competition, breaking the previous record of 16 years and 177 days, set by Cesc Fàbregas in the 2003–04 League Cup.

In June 2023, with his schoolboy terms ending, Nwaneri agreed to a new deal with Arsenal on scholarship terms with an agreement for a professional contract upon his seventeenth birthday on 21 March 2024.

Nwaneri played as a substitute in the 2023–24 season in the Premier League in Arsenal’s 6–0 win away against West Ham United, coming on in the 77th minute.

On 25 September 2024, Nwaneri scored his first senior goals when he netted a brace against Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the EFL Cup, helping the Gunners to a 5–1 victory.

International career
After starring in qualifying, Nwaneri was named in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship on 17 May 2023.

He scored the winner in the opening match against Croatia at Balmazújvárosi Városi Sportpálya.

On 2 November 2023, Nwaneri was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

He scored his only goal of the tournament in their opening group game against New Caledonia in Jakarta.

Nwaneri also played in the other group fixtures against Iran and Brazil. He came off the bench as a substitute during their round of sixteen defeat against Uzbekistan.

On 20 May 2024, the youngster was included in the England squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

He once again scored in the opening game of the tournament, this time a 4-0 win over France in Larnaca.

Nwaneri also scored in a group-stage victory over Spain. His third and last goal of the competition came in their quarter-final elimination against Italy.

 

Style of play
Nwaneri is a skilful, creative and attack-minded midfielder.

He has been labelled as a player who can operate as a “number 10” but can play every attacking position, with an innate capacity to receive and dribble with the ball at his feet while also contributing defensively.

He is comfortable in both wide and central roles.