Ethan Nwaneri reveals the ‘vision’ Mikel Arteta has been telling the Arsenal squad, it’s ‘getting closer’

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Mikel Arteta has been hammering one thing into his Arsenal squad, revealed rising star Ethan Nwaneri.

It’s been quite the season for Nwaneri, who, after graduating from Hale End, has become a regular in the Arsenal first team. 

The next challenge for the 18-year-old will be to maintain his rise, something he’s in a good place to do under the guidance of Arteta. 

There’s a possibility that in his breakthrough campaign, Nwaneri could feature in the Champions League semi-final, something that, despite being quite the spectacle, doesn’t come as a surprise to the teen. 

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Ethan Nwaneri reveals Mikel Arteta’s Champions League and silverware vision

Nwaneri didn’t feature over the two legs of Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid, but he was close to the action as a substitute. 

Although the teenager was exposed to the glitz and glamour of the latter stages of the tournament, Nwaneri revealed why the Arsenal squad are somewhat unfazed by the level they’re at right now. 

“It’s been so crazy, but this is what Mikel wants,” Nwaneri told journalist Jordan Davies. 

“He’s had this vision in his head of us; he wants us to win everything, and he’s bringing us to that.”

Nwaneri’s admission painted a picture of the high standards Arteta maintains behind the scenes with his squad, and now, the final goal could be fulfilled.

“We’re getting closer and closer every week,” the academy graduate concluded, as Arsenal stand just 180 minutes away from the Champions League final. 

Arsenal’s record in the Champions League under Arteta

It’s remarkable to think that Arteta has fired Arsenal from eighth-place finishes to being contenders to win the Champions League, but as Nwaneri said, it’s simply the standard he has set.

Arsenal need to be regarded as one of Europe’s strongest teams, which they now are, however, silverware is missing.

The Gunners’ last chance at silverware this campaign is the Champions League, which, judging by Arsenal’s record in the tournament this term, is truly possible.

This season, Arsenal have conceded only seven goals in the Champions League, and remarkably, have only conceded a total of 17 goals since the North Londoners’ return to the competition in 2023.

Arteta is running a well-oiled machine, with a squad that isn’t just performing on the pitch, but off it too.

The manager has belief and desire that his team can win it all, which has translated to newly promoted stars such as Nwaneri, who is somewhat unsurprised by his side’s form in Europe.