Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes intriguing Ethan Nwaneri prediction

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Arsenal have made quite a name for themselves in recent years in terms of giving youth a chance.

Bukayo Saka came through the Gunners ranks to become a superstar, while the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson are all still playing in the Premier League.

Now, a new generation of talent is breaking through at Arsenal, with several players getting plentiful chances to impress in the senior team.

Mikel Arteta, speaking at his pre-Newcastle United press conference, spoke about a Gunners gem with talent that’s “rare to see” in someone so young.

Mikel Arteta ‘very positive’ about Ethan Nwaneri future at Arsenal

The player in question is Ethan Nwaneri, who has gone from strength to strength at the Emirates Stadium in recent years.

Nwaneri became the youngest player to feature in the Premier League in September 2022, when he came on as a substitute against Brentford at the age of 15 years and 181 days.

This season, Nwaneri – now 17 – has made six outings in all competitions for Arsenal’s senior team, and he has registered three goals, all in the Carabao Cup.

Last time out, he scored a superb goal against Preston North End in the fourth round, on top of his brace against Bolton Wanderers in round three.

Arteta was asked – as transcribed by football.london – how good Nwaneri could go on to become.

“I can talk about how good he is right now,” he said. “And at 17 years old and doing the position that he is at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, I think that sums up really well the level he has.

“What happens in the future is going to mainly depend on him and how much he wants it. At the moment he wants it a lot and he is surrounded by the right people.

“The crystal ball to see what he is going to be in two or three years, no. My prediction is going to be very positive?”

When asked whether Nwaneri was right up there with the best in his age group, Arteta replied: “It is rare to see a talent like this at 17, that’s true.

“When he made his debut 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 pathway we wanted to build with him and we wanted to send him a really strong sign about how much we trust him and how much we wanted him to stay with us.

“We are delighted to have him.”

With Ben White a doubt for the Newcastle game, there’s a chance Thomas Partey could play at right-back and leave a gap in midfield than Nwaneri could fill.

READ MORE: How Ethan Nwaneri and Phil Foden actually compare at 17 as Gabriel Jesus likens Arsenal No.53 to Man City star

Ethan Nwaneri in league with Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere

Speaking on the Handbrake Off Podcast, Adrian Clarke recently claimed that Nwaneri is in the same class as the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere.

“It’s an exceptional talent (Nwaneri has). He belongs in the same class as Cesc and Jack Wilshere in terms of one, the kids. There’s no doubt about it,” Clarke said.

“There’s no doubt either that, you know, this isn’t about England, but no doubt that he’s going to be an England player sooner rather than later as well. He is special, really special.

His decision making, you know, that’s what Saka, that’s what set Saka apart from so many others, his age, doing the right thing 99 times out of 100.”