Mikel Merino has got to know his teammates very well over the last few months.
The Spain international joined the Gunners from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2024. He has had a lot of problems with injuries, but he is slowly adapting to the way Mikel Arteta wants to play.
Merino has played with and watched all of his teammates perform in training as well as in games over the last five months.
Many have impressed him, including a youngster who he thinks has a ‘really high ceiling’.
Mikel Merino shares his honest thoughts about Ethan Nwaneri at Arsenal
Ethan Nwaneri is a superstar in the making.
The 17-year-old has become a household name in English football, and his performances for Arsenal have been utterly magnificent this season.
Nwaneri scored the winner against Girona in the Champions League on Wednesday night and even won the Player of the Match award.
That is a stunning achievement, and even the Spanish media were raving about Nwaneri after the game.
Merino, who started the game with Nwaneri, has had his say, and the midfielder is beyond impressed with how good the teenager is.
He told CBS Sports: “It’s unbelievable how this guy performs under any circumstance being 17 years old, he is just an amazing player.
“You can see how he behaves on the pitch. He is ruthless, he has no fear on the pitch. Yeah, he’s an unbelievable player for us.
“Hopefully, we can help him develop and improve because he has a really, really high ceiling. We’re going to help him reach it.”
Nwaneri could soon break Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen’s all-time record
Nwaneri has already broken a few records since making his debut at Arsenal.
The teenager is the youngest player to make an appearance in the history of the Premier League – he did that when he was just 15 years old.
Soon, he could break Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen’s record.
Nwaneri needs four more goals in all competitions to become the highest-scoring player of a Premier League club before the age of 18.
The youngster will turn 18 on the 21st of March. Arsenal will play nine games in all competitions from now until then – 10 if they make it into the final of the Carabao Cup.
Four goals in nine games is an achievable target for the youngster. We really hope he does it.
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