Only Lamine Yamal can rival Ethan Nwaneri with impressive record after what he did during Arsenal vs Fulham

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Arsenal secured three points against Fulham at the Emirates with a little help from Ethan Nwaneri.

The Hale End graduate recorded his second assist of the Premier League season to pave the way for Mikel Merino to open the scoring.

Nwaneri was one of Arsenal’s top performers during the international break, and the teen ensured he returned to domestic action with a bang.

Starting on the right wing, the 18-year-old sent Mikel Arteta a message with his performance amid Bukayo Saka’s return.

• READ MORE: Bukayo Saka’s celebration and Mikel Arteta’s reaction to Gabriel Magalhaes injury – five things you missed from Arsenal v Fulham

Ethan Nwaneri rivals Lamine Yamal after Fulham win

Nwaneri has covered for Saka sensationally well on the right flank, drifting away from his favoured central attacking midfield role. 

Against Fulham, the Englishman set up Merino by cutting in from the right, recording an assist that stood for more than just breaking the deadlock.

With his second assist of the campaign, Nwaneri took his goal contribution total to ten for the season, making him the second-youngest player in Europe’s top five leagues to reach the milestone. 

Only Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal reached the ten-goal contribution mark at a younger age than the Hale End product, portraying his stark rise at senior level over the 2024/25 calendar. 

Nwaneri has been mentioned alongside Yamal due to the trademark swagger he brings to the pitch, something rare to see at such a tender age.  

Mikel Arteta has a dilemma with Nwaneri 

Many would assume that having a talent in a similar bracket to Yamal would bring Arteta joy, however, the Arsenal manager is instead set to endure a selection headache. 

Now that Saka has returned, Arteta must decide how to manage Nwaneri’s minutes, given that the teen’s run in the starting XI came as a result of the winger’s injury. 

Arguably, the simplest way to make the change is to restore the 18-year-old to his favoured number ten role, which would come at the expense of Martin Odegaard.

The dilemma will be one for Arteta to combat for the remainder of the season, a campaign that Nwaneri will be desperate to end with consistent game time.