Ethan Nwaneri made Arsenal history in our win over Brentford on Sunday - becoming the youngest-ever player to represent our first team.
At just 15 years and 181 days, Nwaneri is also the youngest player to make a Premier League appearance in the competition’s history.
Speaking after the match, Mikel Arteta explained why he brought the teenager off the bench.
“it was a feeling that I had yesterday, I don’t know why,” Arteta told us at full-time.
“The first day I met him I looked him in his eyes and everyone was telling me about him, Per was telling me about him, and because of the injuries we only have 12 or 13 senior players yesterday to put in the squad and we decided to bring him, and that’s it.
“It’s one step, one experience, so enjoy it and congratulations!
“It’s just one step and all the steps in your career are not forward and you have to know that. You can go forward then backwards and then forwards. You fall, you go back - that’s, unfortunately, this industry and the football career of any player.”
Nwaneri was introduced in second-half stoppage time as we returned to the top of the Premier League with a convincing victory.
“That’s the game that ideally we wanted to play here,” Arteta added.
“The reality is that it’s very difficult to actually make it happen, so big credit to the players for making it happen against what is a really good side that is really good at what they do.
“They put teams under pressure constantly and have a fabulous crowd, but we have managed to dominate the game and fully deserve the points.”
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