An Arsenal XI comprised of academy players beat Boreham Wood 4-2 in their opening pre-season match ahead of the new season.
The side was managed by under-21 coach Mehmet Ali, and whilst the entire Arsenal squad was exclusively academy players, with no first-team stars present, Charlie Patino was included in the starting XI, and performed well on his return to the club from loan.
A brace from Salah Oulad M’Hand and a header from defender Omar Rekik saw Arsenal race into a 3-1 lead by half time before making 11 changes.
Arsenals starlet Ethan Nwaneri, who has made two first-team appearances, came on at half time, and it did not take long for him to make an impact, as he scored within five minutes of his introduction, with the game ending 4-2.
The 17-year-old oozed class in his 45 minutes, and the teenager showed that he is ready for a chance in the first-team under Mikel Arteta in the upcoming pre-season tour.
Ethan Nwaneri shines in Arsenal academy pre-season victory
Nwaneri played in an advanced midfield role alongside Michal Rosiak and Myles Lewis-Skelly for the second half, and from his very first touch, it was clear that he was a different level to anyone else.
It took just five minutes for him to score, driving forward from midfield and exchanging passes with winger Ismael Kabia on the right, before slotting a left footed finish into the bottom corner.
Beyond his goal, he drew applause from both Boreham Wood and Arsenal fans in attendance with some excellent touches and dribbles, and at times he glided across the pitch with it seemingly impossible to win the ball off him.
Ethan Nwaneri now deserves pre-season chance with Arsenal first-team
Nwaneri came off the bench in Arsenal’s 6-0 victory at West Ham last season, and all signs point towards the teenager seeing more first-team action this season.
The midfielder was a surprise exclusion from the squad which travelled to USA last year, after impressing in a pre-season friendly away at Nuremburg.
The England youth international is clearly ready to take the next step in his development, and pre-season will give him the platform to further establish himself as a top-class prospect within Arsenal.
Even if he is still eased into competitive action next season, friendlies in pre-season are a risk-free way for him to gain more senior experience, as he continues to outgrow academy football.
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