Ethan Nwaneri is quick changing into certainly one of Arsenal’s brightest younger skills, but his journey within the senior squad stays unconventional. Regardless of making historical past because the Premier League’s youngest-ever participant and stepping up impressively in Bukayo Saka’s absence, the 17-year-old remains to be unable to arrange for matches with the primary staff resulting from Premier League safeguarding guidelines.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that, regardless of Nwaneri’s rising affect, rules stop him from dressing alongside his senior teammates till he turns 18 in March. It’s an uncommon state of affairs, however one which Arsenal are fastidiously managing to make sure {the teenager} nonetheless feels built-in throughout the squad.
Safeguarding Guidelines Maintain Nwaneri Separate
Premier League guidelines dictate that gamers underneath the age of 18 should put together for matches away from the senior dressing room. It’s a measure designed to safeguard younger gamers, but in instances like Nwaneri’s, it presents a transparent problem for golf equipment making an attempt to embed a teenage expertise into the first-team atmosphere.
Talking in regards to the state of affairs, Arteta acknowledged the difficulties whereas praising Myles Lewis-Skelly, one other Arsenal prospect, for offering essential assist to Nwaneri.
“Once you see these two strolling subsequent to one another, speaking to one another, there’s a bond there and a chemistry there,” Arteta mentioned. “I think about for them it’s particular as a result of in the meanwhile they’re nonetheless in numerous dressing rooms.
“Ethan can’t be in our dressing room nonetheless, which is unbelievable. He must dress someplace else, even on matchday.”
Whereas Nwaneri is making headlines for his performances on the pitch, off it, Arsenal are working fastidiously to make sure that these safeguarding rules don’t depart him feeling remoted from the remainder of the squad.
Nwaneri’s Fast Rise Below Arteta
Regardless of his restricted entry to the first-team dressing room, Nwaneri’s performances have proven that he belongs at this degree. The 17-year-old has performed a key position in latest matches, scoring three targets in his final 5 appearances throughout all competitions.
His most up-to-date purpose got here in Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Manchester Metropolis, a match that underlined his rising confidence and talent. Stepping in whereas Saka recovers, Nwaneri has not simply crammed a niche however made a compelling case for continued involvement.
Arteta has dealt with his improvement with the identical cautious administration that has characterised Arsenal’s method to younger expertise in recent times. Nwaneri’s emergence is harking back to the way in which Saka and Emile Smith Rowe had been step by step launched into the primary staff, making certain that expertise is nurtured with out undue strain.
What Subsequent for Nwaneri at Arsenal?
Whereas the dressing room restrictions stay in place till his 18th birthday on March 21, the long-term outlook for Nwaneri at Arsenal is undoubtedly optimistic.
Arteta’s facet has grow to be top-of-the-line locations for younger skills to flourish, and Nwaneri seems set to comply with the pathway laid down by the likes of Saka and Martin Ødegaard. His versatility, technical capability, and fearlessness on the ball make him an thrilling possibility for the long run.
By the point he’s formally built-in into the first-team dressing room, he could have already got cemented himself as a key participant in Arsenal’s squad.
