Ethan Nwaneri probably delivered the most significant 78 minutes of his Arsenal career to date against Brentford playing as Bukayo Saka’s replacement.
So far at Arsenal, Nwaneri has mostly played in Martin Odegaard’s role, the one most similar to the position he thrived in during his days in the Hale End Academy.
However, with Saka injured and Arsenal desperate for a left-footed option on the right, Mikel Arteta took a chance on Nwaneri, playing the 17-year-old slightly out of position.
By no means is Nwaneri a stranger to those areas of the pitch, but he’s rarely been utilised as a winger in his senior career to date.
The youngster had the 360 degree movement that Arsenal lacked with Gabriel Martinelli on the right, and Arteta’s team looked much better balanced.
Ethan Nwaneri handed Mohamed Elneny’s old song during Brentford win
That being said, it’ll be interesting to see if Nwaneri gets the nod against Brighton & Hove Albion, or whether Arteta deems it necessary to protect the youngster, returning him to the bench.
And if he does play, it’ll provide an opportunity for Arsenal’s away supporters to repeat a new chant they seemingly had for Nwaneri during the victory over Brentford.
READ MORE: Arsenal fans have a lot to say about Thomas Partey after his performance against Brentford
In the second half, Arsenal supporters appeared to be singing Mohamed Elneny’s old song with Nwaneri’s name in place.
Elneny earned his own song to the tune of ‘Twist and Shout’ by The Beatles, and it sounded like Nwaneri’s name was temporarily being used in place.
There was a bit of debate on X, some still thought that it was Elneny’s name being sung, and perhaps that will become clearer against Brighton on Saturday.
But if it is in fact Nwaneri’s name being sung, then Arsenal supporters have some new lyrics to learn.
“Shake it Nwaneri now,
Twist and shout,
Come on come on come on Nwaneri now,
Work it on out,
You know twist so good,
You know twist so good,
Come on come on come on Nwaneri now,
Come on Nwaneri,
And let me know that you’re mine.”
Mikel Arteta explains why Ethan Nwaneri deserves his Arsenal chance
Nwaneri had Arsenal fans raving during his minutes against Brentford, and there’s evidently a lot of reason to be excited for the future.
After the game, Arteta insisted that the 17-year-old’s position in the starting eleven wasn’t because of illness in the squad either, it was one he earned on merit.
Arteta said: “That position wasn’t because of a bug, that was a decision we made because I thought he was the best player to play in the position to start the game and because there was a story there, with his debut here.
“He made his Premier League debut and sometimes that feeling comes in and you feel it’s the right one and who knows.
“He was really good. In training he gives us all the right reasons [to play]. We could’ve signed a player from any country, he would be playing.
“We’re building him, he’s already played a lot of games a lot of minutes for the age that he’s got and he fully deserves that.”
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