Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta raised a toast to Ethan Nwaneri after the 17-year-old made an impressive full Premier League debut against Brentford, stepping in for the injured Bukayo Saka. In the 3-1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, Nwaneri showcased his confidence on the ball, contributing a corner that led to Arsenal’s second goal scored by Mikel Merino.

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With Saka sidelined until at least March due to hamstring surgery, there has been speculation about Arsenal seeking a right winger in the transfer market to support their title ambitions. However, Arteta expressed his satisfaction with Nwaneri’s performance, stating, “Really good (he played). In training, he gave us all the right reasons.” He emphasized that Nwaneri, as an academy player, deserves to play.

Arteta highlighted the importance of patience in Nwaneri’s development, acknowledging the challenges of managing expectations. He noted, “Now we’re building him; he’s already played a lot of games, a lot of minutes for us, and he fully deserves that.”

Nwaneri has become a regular feature in the Arsenal squad this season, having previously made appearances off the bench. His connection to Brentford is notable, as he made history there in September 2022 by becoming the youngest-ever Premier League player at just 15 years and 181 days old.

This season, Nwaneri has also demonstrated his goal-scoring ability in the Carabao Cup, netting twice against Bolton and scoring a stunning top-corner goal against Preston.

Sky Sports pundit Karen Carney praised Nwaneri’s performance against Brentford, describing him as “brave” and “bold.” She remarked on his ability to take on defenders and commended his positive attitude, calling him “outstanding” and a joy to watch, especially considering his young age.