The 2024/25 season was one to savour for Ethan Nwaneri, though the Arsenal academy graduate’s minutes dropped towards the latter stages.
Alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri’s emergence was one of the stories of Arsenal’s season.
The Hale End duo grew alongside each other in Arsenal’s academy and did the same in the first team, with the teenagers proving that they’re more than ready for the Premier League.
Nwaneri is set to sign a new deal at Arsenal on the back of a tremendous campaign that saw him score nine goals in 37 senior appearances.
Ethan Nwaneri opens up about recent lack of game time
It’s remarkable to think that it was only three years ago that Mikel Arteta was slammed for giving Nwaneri his debut at the age of 15.
The Arsenal manager saw something in the youngster then and doubled down on his belief in the attacking midfielder by handing him a place of his own in the first team.
Though the England U21 star had a triumphant campaign, there were questions asked about Nwaneri’s game time in the final third of the season, as when Bukayo Saka returned from injury, the teenager reassumed his place on the back seat.
Speaking to The Athletic, Nwaneri opened up about how it felt to have his minutes reduced just as he was getting started in his debut year.
“Going from playing quite a lot to not playing as much is normal in football, so I don’t really take it to heart,” he assured.
“I understand Mikel’s got a decision to make at the end of the day, and it’s hard for him to make.”
The teen sympathised with his manager to a degree, understanding that Arteta can’t pick everyone, but such is only set to make him a better player.
“He obviously wants to include everyone, but he can’t. But I think it’s part of football, and it’s those times that can really define where you’re going to be. I think I’ve dealt with it well. I’m in a good place mentally and physically.”
Nwaneri’s admission is refreshing, as there has been a narrative around Arsenal that, during Arteta’s reign, few academy players have been debuted.
The teen busted the myth regarding any reluctance from Arteta to give academy players a chance, with the boss on course to promote another Hale End sensation very soon.
Nwaneri outlines Mikel Arteta’s demands
Max Dowman will be a part of Arsenal’s first team next season, starting with the Gunners’ pre-season plans.
The 15-year-old has impressed at Hale End and is set to experience the work of Arteta, something that could make him even better.
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The boss certainly had an impact on Nwaneri, who opened up about the manager’s ways and how they’ve influenced him as a player.
“There’s a lot to learn from Mikel, if you ever met him, you’d see how intense he is. How he’s so good with his words and he knows what he’s saying. He’s elevated my game, definitely. There’s so much, not even just tactically but mentally too.”
Nwaneri also gave Arteta a nod when it came to helping him on a personal level, focusing on changes to his body language.
“On a personal level, he’s helped me a lot. He’s really big on body language and the way that he presents himself. He puts that onto me.
“Before, maybe the way that I’d walk or slouch a bit or just the way I’d be sitting, he’s onto everything. That’s helped me just sharpen up in my mind, and it’s helped me a lot.”
Arteta gets a lot of stick from those outside of the club, but it’s abundantly clear to see that for those in the Arsenal squad, there couldn’t be a better figure to lead the club forward.
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