Ethan Nwaneri: A teen living the Arsenal dream

One of the undoubted stars of our run to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup has been 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.

His first-ever start for us came in the third-round win over Bolton Wanderers in September, and he marked the occasion with two goals. A few weeks later he was back in the starting line-up for our fourth-round trip to Preston, and he once again stole the show, curling home the goal of the game in our 3-0 win.

But the Hale End graduate’s performances this season haven’t been restricted just to the League Cup. He’s featured in more than half of our Premier League games, scoring in the 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest, and he’s also made his Champions League bow as well.

Well documented at the time – he became the youngest player in the club’s history when he made his debut, away to Brentford on September 18, 2022 – aged 15 years and 181 days. He also set a new record for youngest-ever Premier League player for any club that day too.

It’s the future that excites Ethan most, though. He doesn’t turn 18 until March, and despite all he’s achieved in his nascent career so far, he insists he’s just getting started. We caught up with Ethan to ask him about his Arsenal journey...

First of all Ethan, how pleased are you with your season so far?

I’m pleased with how it’s going, I’ve scored my first Premier League goal, I’ve been making more appearances. I’ve made my first starts for the first team, scored my first professional goals too, but there is a lot more to come and it will come.

My first game of the season was special because it was in the north London derby. We had a few injuries at the time, so I was ready to be involved if needed. The manager gave me some tactical advice and encouragement and then sent me on.

I was always an Arsenal supporter growing up, so obviously it means a lot to be involved in a win there – it made it even better. I used to watch all the derbies when I was at Hale End, and I went to a few of them at the Emirates. One of my favourites was when Emile Smith Rowe scored early on and we won 3-1. That’s a good memory for me.

You then played from the start against Bolton in the Carabao Cup, and scored twice – what was that was like?

It was a crazy feeling! But that was what I was in the team to do, so I was happy I could deliver on that. My family were all there so afterwards everyone was really happy, but they were just reminding me that there is more to come. I’ve got the shirt from that game at home. It’s a special one but hopefully there’s a lot more to come.

In the next round you scored again. Surely you haven’t scored many better than that goal at Preston?

Yes, it was a good one! I was pleased with that, because that’s what I work on, being dangerous in those areas, so it’s great when it pays off in a game. I’d say it’s one of my best so far, definitely.

Again that’s what I expect from myself, and I want to carry it on until the next one. I set myself high standards that I want to keep reaching.

You then made your Champions League debut at the San Siro of all places...

That was a great experience, coming on at the end. I was so grateful to come on. I watched the Champions League growing up and always wanted to play in it. I watched all the finals especially Cristiano Ronaldo scoring for Real Madrid, so it means a lot to play in it now. And when you are involved in it, travelling to the games, they feel really big.

That’s what I love about it – they are always big occasions and that’s when I’m at my best. I love the big games, and it’s always been that way for me, 100 per cent. A final or a big tournament, or going on tour while I was at Hale End – I loved that. I just feel like I thrive in that environment, and love the pressure of it. I’ve been like that for as long as I can remember.

What have the coaches been saying to you this season about your progress?

The manager and all the coaches have been great. They say to me to just keep going and encourage me. Whether I’m playing or not, I need to keep working, keep doing what I’m doing and always aim to improve.

"big occasions - that’s when I’m at my best. I love the big games, and it’s always been that way for me"

How difficult is it for you to remain level-headed when there is such excitement surrounding you from our supporters?

I just know and I see where I want to be, and where I’m going to be, and I focus on that. Nobody has really seen anything from me yet, just a small snippet of what’s to come, so I’ve got a much bigger picture in my mind that I want to work towards.

Tell us a bit about your Arsenal journey so far.

I joined the academy when I was eight, but I was in the pre-academy before that, so I’ve been here all my life basically. I’ve always been a midfielder – I haven’t really changed position much. Around under-14s and under-15s I played as a striker a bit more, and that was good for my development because I really improved my finishing then.

I played a bit as a defensive midfielder too in my under-16 season, and right wing, left wing, too. That all added a lot to my game. But I’d say attacking midfield is my best position, and where I would like to be long-term.

Which coaches have been important for you in your career so far?

I’ve had loads through my time here. Dan Micciche, Adam Birchall, Jack Wilshere, Mehmet Ali, Max Porter – I’ve had so many, and also those when I was really young.

My dad, Obi, coaches me and my brother, Emerson, who’s 14 and at Hale End. I’d say my dad is my main coach, my main critic and my main support. Over the years he’s always taken me and my brother to do extra work in our local park in Islington, to help with finishing, working on our touch or whatever. We live local to Emirates Stadium so it’s great that we’ve done that.

Tell us about your brother Emerson...

He’s a midfielder but he can play right back as well. He’s in the under-15s this year. We’re really close, but I wouldn’t say we are that similar. He’s probably more outgoing than me – he’s the loud one! There are three years between us so it would be really cool if we could both play in the Arsenal first-team together one day. We’ve spoken about that a bit and what that would be like, it’s something to aim for.

Which senior players have helped you since you’ve made the step up to first- team football?

There’s loads, they all do. Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka have both been great for me, and not just me but all the young players. They help us with everything, and somebody like Bukayo has had that journey already. That’s really important – he knows what we are going through, he can help me, offer me insights on what can help me.

He’s so good to talk to because he’s so chilled and humble, but also I try to watch him as much as I can and learn that way. Martin as well, he was playing when he was 15 too, so to have that experience with me in the dressing room is great.

You made your debut at 15 and have been training with the first team consistently over the past year or so. What has that been like?

It’s hard, it’s intense but I’d say I’m definitely used to it now. I think we train even harder than we play really, so that when you get to the game you are completely ready.

Take us back to your emotions when you made your debut a couple of years ago, and dealing with all the attention.

It all happened so quickly, but afterwards, my parents and everyone at the club really supported me, and helped me focus on school and things like that. So I didn’t feel like any pressure was getting to me, or like I had any expectations on me.

After the game I went away with England, but then I was back at school. That was great because my friends were all proud of me, but nobody really made a big deal of it, we just carried on like normal. They’ve all grown up with me, they know what I want to achieve, so it’s part of the journey and that’s it. The support I’ve had from everyone has been great.

"Nobody has really seen anything from me yet. I’ve got a much bigger picture in my mind that I want to work towards"

What was it like to go back to playing youth football after that?

I think that first game helped me deal with everything, it made me stronger. Once you become the youngest-ever player for the club then people on the outside expect you to score five goals every time you play for the under-18s. So that time definitely helped me, to help me deal with that.

Maybe I got a bit more attention from my opponents in that period too, but I liked that! It brings out the best in me, and makes me want to prove myself even more.

Ayden Heaven and Myles Lewis-Skelly are in your age group and both made their debuts this season. What does that mean to you to share it all with them?

It’s amazing, that’s the group I grew up with and now we’re all on the big stage together. Myself and Myles have been best friends since we were six, and now we’re in the Arsenal team together – it’s crazy isn’t it?! It’s happening, so we don’t really stop and think too much about it, because we want more. We know we’re just starting.

Finally, you are also doing really well for England Under-19s lately, how much are you enjoying international football?

I’ve always enjoyed England camps – it’s really good. You meet up with your friends from different clubs and it breaks the circuit a bit. It’s a change of scenery and sometimes that can do you good. I’m enjoying playing for the 19s, and now I’m looking to step up more. I’m always looking to step up whenever I play, so let’s see what happens.