It was a statement season for Ethan Nwaneri, who made his breakthrough into the Arsenal first team.
When Mikel Arteta handed Nwaneri his Premier League debut at the age of 15, it was clear that the youngster had a bright future at the Emirates.
For some, the forward’s rise has come sooner than expected, as the 2024/25 campaign presented the 18-year-old with first-team opportunities.
Nwaneri is now firmly competing in the Arsenal squad to give Arteta a high-quality option when needed, with so much more to come from the rising star.
Declan Rice is ready to see more of Ethan Nwaneri
Ending the season with 37 senior appearances and 11 goal contributions, it was a campaign to remember for Nwaneri.
Though the teen will be overly satisfied with his first taste of consistent first-team football, on the final day of the season, he made it clear that there’s more to come.
Arsenal fans were mesmerised by Nwaneri against Southampton, as the Englishman ended the footballing calendar with a start at St Mary’s.
While the player himself signalled that there’s more to come on the pitch, Declan Rice echoed such with a clear message to his teammate on social media.
Reacting to the season, Nwaneri shared a video of some memorable moments, captioning an Instagram post, “A season to remember – Thank you all for the support.”
In the comment section, Rice said, “Just the start,” a message that will excite Arsenal fans.
Arsenal starlet Max Dowman shared a similar assessment, commenting “Warming,” under the Hale End products post.
Fans far and wide will be encouraged by what Rice and Dowman said, given that there have been reports regarding minor concerns over Nwaneri’s new contract at Arsenal.
Summer transfer window will be interesting for Nwaneri
Next season is set to be another significant one for Nwaneri, who has been handed a lower squad number to represent his progression.
Though the teenager is firmly in Arteta’s plans, there’s a lot of work to do, as competition in the Arsenal squad is rising.
With Dowman set to be introduced to the first team, Nwaneri will have a positional rival to contend with alongside Martin Odegaard.
The summer transfer window could also induce additional competition for game time, dependent on the profile of player Andrea Berta opts to sign.
It’s set to be a fascinating campaign ahead of Nwaneri, but first, the teenager will be eager to impress in pre-season now that his place in the squad is secure.
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