Nwaneri needs 'to see if he can fly', says Arteta

Nwaneri featured in the Premier Leage for Arsenal when aged just 15.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says that now is the time for teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri "to see if he can fly".

The 17-year-old scored a superb goal in the 3-0 win over Preston in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

That followed his first senior goals in a 5-1 win over Bolton in the previous round.

Nwaneri has been surrounded by hype since he 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.

"It is rare to see a talent like this at 17, that's true," Arteta said.

"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."

The attacking midfielder has made four substitute appearances in the Premier League. Calls for him to start a match have become louder and Arteta has acknowledged that Nwaneri needs to keep being challenged.

"The biggest thing is to push him and then when he is pushing you grab him from behind to make sure he is stable and protected. This talent you have to push him," the Spaniard said.

"Protection is necessary, keeping an eye on him, but he needs to see that he can go and fly and not cut his wings.

"I can talk about how good he is right now and the position he is at, at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, sums up really well the level he has.

"What happens in the future is going to 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."

Arteta used the example of Arsenal's academy product Bukayo Saka, widely regarded as one of the best wingers in Europe, as a player who can give hope to those players striving to break through.

"That creates belief in the building, to all those in the academy and the young players that there is a clear pathway, that we are going to give them opportunities and if they earn it they will be treated like the rest," Arteta added.