Nwaneri, the youngest ever PL player, deserves Arsenal debut – Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said Nigeria-eligible Ethan Nwaneri who is now the youngest ever Premier League player earned his club debut.

Ethan Nwaneri, 15, was brought on the applauds of the away fans on Sunday at the Gtech Community Stadium as Arsenal eased into a 3-0 win against Brentford.

The academy graduate entered the history book when he was introduced towards the end of the Premier League game between Arsenal and London rival Brentford on Sunday.

At 15 years, 181 days old, Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest ever Premier League player just ahead of Fulham’s Harvey Elliot and Matthew Briggs.

And Mikel Arteta has explained that the Nigeria-eligible player worked for his debut.

“I met the boy, I really liked what I saw,” Arteta explained in his post-match press conference.

“Obviously, the academy staff also gave me very good information about him.

“He has also trained a couple of times with us.

“Yesterday he had to come because we had injuries, especially Martin Odegaard, and then I had that feeling that if the opportunity came I would give it to him, and I did.

“It’s another step and another experience, but in your career, every step is not going to be forward.

“After this, maybe I need three backwards to go another one forward, but I also think it sends a very strong message about who we are as a club.

“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 are not afraid.

“All the decisions that we make, that I make, are for the club because we believe we have talent that has to be developed over the next two or three years.

“We’ll see how we manage them. The kids will dictate how far they can go.”

Top Three Youngest Players in Premier League History

1. Ethan Nwaneri, Arsenal – 15 years, 181 days
2. Harvey Elliot, Fulham – 16 years, 30 days
3. Matthew Briggs, Fulham – 16 years, 68 days