Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it is now the past for young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri “to see if he can fly”.
The 17-year-old scored a stunning goal in the 3-0 win over Preston in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
That followed his first senior goals in a 5-1 win over Bolton in the previous round.
Nwaneri has been surrounded by hype since he was the youngest player to feature in the Premier League in September 2022, when he came on as a substitute against Brentford in the week of 15 years and 181 days.
“It’s rare to see a talent like this at 17 years old, that’s true,” Arteta said.
“When he debuted in the Premier League there was a lot of talk about it.
“We didn’t do it as a gift, we did it because we knew the path we wanted to take with him and we wanted to send him a really strong signal about how much we believe him and what kind of need he had to stay with us.”
The attacking midfielder has made four appearances as a substitute in the Premier League. Calls for him to start a match have grown louder and Arteta has acknowledged that Nwaneri needs to continue to be challenged.
“The most important thing is to push him and when he is pushing, you grab him from behind to make sure he is strong and safe. This skill you have to push him,” said the Spaniard.
“Cover is essential, protecting a visible part of him, but he wants to check that he can move forward and fly and not lower his wings.
“I can talk about how good he is now and the position he is in, in one of the biggest clubs in Europe, sums up very well the level he has.
“What happens in the future will depend on him and the type of things he needs. In generation, he will need an amount and will be surrounded by the right network.
“The crystal ball to see what it will be like in two or three years, no. My prediction is going to be very positive.”
Arteta damaged the example of Arsenal academy product Bukayo Saka, widely considered one of Europe’s most perfect wingers, as a player who can give hope to those players struggling to get ahead.
“That creates confidence in the building, in everyone in the academy and in the young players, that there is a clear path, that we are going to give them opportunities and, if they earn them, they will be treated like the rest,” he added. Arteta.
