Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri, 15, 'being tracked by Chelsea and City'
Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri, 15, ‘is being tracked by rivals Chelsea and Man City’ after becoming the Premier League’s youngest ever player… but the Gunners ‘haven’t given up hope of tying the midfielder to a new deal’
- Ethan Nwaneri became the Premier League’s youngest ever player last year
- He came on during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Brentford in September aged just 15
- The midfielder is now being chased by both Chelsea and Manchester City
Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri ‘is being closely tracked’ by two of their biggest rivals in Manchester City and Chelsea.
Nwaneri made history in September when he became the first player in Premier League history to make an appearance before his 16th birthday.
He wasn’t given much of an opportunity as a 92nd minute substitute in Arsenal’s 3-0 win, but his being on the bench in the first place shows how highly he is rated by Mikel Arteta.
He has already made nine appearances for England U17s, scoring three goals despite playing in the age group above his own.
The Gunners could now lose Nwaneri, with the Telegraph reporting that both City and Chelsea are keen on bringing in the youngster, although the Gunners are still hoping he will agree a new deal.
Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history last September
Mikel Arteta said he ‘really liked what he saw’ of the Premier League’s first ever 15-year-old debutant
Nwaneri came on during second-hald injury time as Arsenal beat Brentford 3-0 in September
It shows just how fast the midfielder’s star has risen. He first caught Mikel Arteta’s eye with a debut goal for Arsenal u18s when he was just 14, and was labelled ‘unplayable’ by manager, and the Gunners’ previous youngest Premier League player, Jack Wilshere in November after picking up a nine-minute-brace for the same side.
On his initial selection, Arteta said after the game: ‘It was a pure gut feeling. When I met him, when I look at him, I had that feeling. I really liked what I saw.
‘Per Mertesacker and the academy staff are giving me really good information. I met him, he’s trained a couple of times with us.
‘He had to come because we have injuries, especially the injury of Martin (Odegaard), and then I had that feeling from yesterday that if the opportunity could come that I was going to do it and I just (did) it.
‘It sends a strong message about who we are as a club. That we want to give opportunities when there is talent, when there is personality and when there are players who love what they do so much and when they have no fear.
Both Manchester City and Chelsea are keen on bringing in the 15-year-old starlet
‘The doors are open to explore where they can go.’
Whether they are able to hang on to Nwaneri or not, Arsenal are currently on course for what would be a stunning Premier League title.
Their 3-0 win over Fulham at the weekend restored a five points lead over second-place Manchester City with just 11 games to go.
They will face Crystal palace in their next game, who have looked hard to beat in recent weeks but have not won a league match in 2023.
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