The four Arsenal players who inspired Ethan Nwaneri the most during his time at Hale End as he signs new contract

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Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has put an end to speculation over his future by signing a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.

For a while, Ethan Nwaneri’s N5 future looked a bit touch and go, but TBR Football confirmed in mid-July that Nwaneri had agreed a deal in principle to stay at Arsenal.

Now, Arsenal have confirmed that Nwaneri has signed a new long-term contract, which is reported to run until the summer of 2030.

Nwaneri, speaking to the Arsenal media team after the news broke, shared who he looked up to when he was a youngster coming through the ranks at Hale End.

Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles inspired Ethan Nwaneri

Nwaneri said he was inspired by four Arsenal players who began in the academy before going on to make names for themselves in the first-team.

Bukayo Saka, one of the biggest ever success stories out of Hale End, was praised by Nwaneri, along with Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

On the subject of advice for the younger generation, Nwaneri said, as per the Arsenal website: “When I was their age, I was looking up to the Hale End graduates and the Arsenal players in general.

“Reiss [Nelson], Bukayo [Saka], Emile [Smith Rowe] – so many players. Ainsley Maitland-Niles – all these players I was looking up to when I was young.

“You don’t compare, but you’ve shared something, like a moment. They’ve been where you’ve been, and you’re trying to get to where they are.”

Saka and Nelson are still at Arsenal, though Nelson is being linked with a move to Fulham.

Smith Rowe swapped Arsenal for Fulham in 2024, while Maitland-Niles signed for Lyon in 2023 after leaving the Gunners on a free transfer.

READ MORE: What Noni Madueke has already done at Arsenal that Mikel Arteta finds truly ‘remarkable’

Mikel Arteta has already delivered resounding Ethan Nwaneri verdict

Back in January, Arteta said he loved working with a player of Nwaneri’s talent and attitude.

The teenager, then 17, had just started his first Champions League match for Arsenal and scored against Girona in a 2-1 win.

Arteta said: “That’s what we love about him – he’s very aggressive. Before that [goal], he had another action where he made the right choice, he went for it.

“He never [looks nervous], he’s so composed, calm and confident in his ability. At 17, scoring a really important goal in the Champions League is not very common.”