Arsenal are hopeful of securing the long-term future of youngster Ethan Nwaneri, who looks set to be a big player in the years to come.
The Gunners have followed the progress of the midfielder through the Hale End Academy ranks, where he has impressed.
Nwaneri made his Arsenal debut at 15 years old, featuring against Brentford back in 2022, making history as the youngest-ever Arsenal player.
Since then, he has continued to make progress and has eventually been on the fringes of the first team for the current campaign.
While Mikel Arteta is trying to manage the youngster and expectations, they just continue to rise and rise with more game time.
Nwaneri scored his first Premier League goal against Nottingham Forest recently, marking the first of many potential strikes in the division.
As his stock continues to rise, Arsenal are now looking at the possibility of securing the youngster to a new contract.
Arsenal and Ethan Nwaneri contract extension latest
Arsenal worked hard over the summer to convince Nwaneri that he should extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium.
Given his age, the 17-year-old could only sign a deal that run no longer than three years in length, giving less long-term security to the Gunners.
With his 18th birthday in March allowing for a longer contract and some security for his future, there are talks already underway over a new contract.
According to Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel: “Arsenal have started concrete negotiations for Ethan Nwaneri’s contract.
“They want to give him an important contract in the next [few] months probably, let’s see how much time that will take.
“We also know that Arsenal had some changes with Edu Gaspar leaving the club, Arsenal looking for a new director there is some movement around Arsenal that could affect the timing but not affect the strategy or the idea to have Ethan Nwaneri as one of the talents for present and future.”
It shows a clear decision, regardless of Edu Gaspar’s Arsenal exit, that the hierarchy are willing to push with signing Nwaneri up for the long-term vision.
It remains to be seen how long the deal could be and which terms may be offered to the youngster for his potential.
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Mikel Arteta’s Ethan Nwaneri decision is paying off
Arteta has been keen to stress in the early years of Nwaneri’s career that he won’t rush him through at Arsenal, just because he has potential.
It’s tough for youngsters to adjust to senior football, not least with the mixture of physicality and expectation that’s placed on them.
However, so far, he has been drip-fed minutes to get used to that upwards step in intensity, starting off with cup games before receiving more time in the Premier League and Champions League.
| Season | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
| 22/23 | 1 | – | – |
| 23/24 | 13 | – | – |
| 24/25 | 238 | 4 | – |
It shows how carefully a talent like this should be managed, not least when there’s plenty of tough competition ahead of him in the senior team’s pecking order.
There are plenty of years ahead in the career of Nwaneri, one that many hope will be spent at Arsenal.
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