Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has plenty of work ahead of him to build up the career of Ethan Nwaneri for the future, with the 17-year-old showing early signs of quality.
Coming through the Hale End academy ranks, the midfielder was earmarked early as one to keep an eye on.
He went on to smash records, handed his senior debut at just 15 years old, before knocking on the door of Mikel Arteta for more game time.
Those chances have come, with Nwaneri scoring a first Premier League goal against Nottingham Forest over the weekend.
The youngster has started to raise eyebrows outside of Arsenal, though there are questions over where his long-term future is in the team.
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Martin Keown makes Ethan Nwaneri position plea
If Nwaneri is to make his way into the Arsenal team on a regular basis, then he may have trouble in finding a position to call his own.
The attacking midfield position is taken by Martin Odegaard, the right flank is for Bukayo Saka, while the competition on the left consists of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
With that in mind, former defender Martin Keown has called upon Arteta to find a position for the youngster.
Speaking on TNTSports, he said: “He’s [Nwaneri] really impressed me when he’s come on in the games, his cameo performances that he’s getting but when he comes on he looks the part and I think maybe in time, they might have to find a position for him on the pitch where obviously Odegaard stays in but he pops up on the left.
“There’s some thought we had on this player because he’s a special talent.”
It remains to be seen where that place may be, but it’s a dilemma that Nwaneri could give to Arteta in the weeks ahead.
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What positions can Ethan Nwaneri play?
So far in his senior career, Nwaneri has largely played in the attacking midfield role, which appears his most comfortable position.
Whether he can dethrone Odegaard is a difficult question, which may lead to a position change that the youngster is capable of.
In his youth career, the 17-year-old has featured on the right flank, though he is left-footed and shows an ability to cut inside and let fly.
A stint at centre-forward has also been on the cards for Nwaneri, while a place on the left flank is possible with his left-footedness.
It remains to be seen if he will play in another position or not, but it’s a clear dilemma for if the starlet becomes a regular.
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