High-stakes Battle: Record-breaking Arsenal Wonderkid’s Future Hangs in the Balance as Man Utd and Chelsea Emerge as Fierce Competitors
Ethan Nwaneri, who holds the record as the Premier League’s youngest player, is contemplating leaving Arsenal to join another team in the Premier League.
Nwaneri achieved a significant milestone by appearing as a substitute in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory against Brentford in September, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history at the age of 15 years and 181 days. As his schoolboy registration is set to expire later this month, it is uncertain whether he will extend his contract with Arsenal.
In the event that Nwaneri opts to depart from Arsenal, there is considerable interest from top Premier League clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United to secure his services. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, is eager for the young talent to commit his future to the club, as he has praised Nwaneri following his record-breaking appearance.
Although Nwaneri hasn’t made any further appearances for Arteta’s team since the Brentford match, he has represented England’s U17 team on 17 occasions. Additionally, he has featured twice in the EFL Trophy for Arsenal’s U23 squad and started in the FA Youth Cup final against West Ham, where Arsenal suffered a 5-1 defeat in April.
The Athletic has reported that Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United are all closely observing Nwaneri’s situation. Arsenal is still recovering from the loss of Omari Hutchinson, who joined Chelsea a year ago and subsequently made his Premier League debut in January.
It is worth noting that Nwaneri holds the distinction of being the youngest player ever to participate in English football’s top division, not limited to just the Premier League. The previous record was held by Derek Foster, a goalkeeper from Sunderland, who was 15 years and 185 days old when he played against Leicester in August 1964.
Arteta stunned English football when he gave Nwaneri the nod against Brentford. The Arsenal boss explained: “We have the opportunities to bring young players on. We are pretty short and opportunities come when issues arise. It was a pure gut feeling.
“I met the boy, I really liked what I saw. He trained with us a couple of times. I had that feeling yesterday that if the opportunity could come, I would do it. He deserves it. He has been doing great. He is such a big talent we want to keep with us.”
Arsenal fans chanted “he’s going to school in the morning” when Nwaneri came on, but they may not be as enthusiastic towards the youngster if he joins one of their rivals. The Gunners need all the help they can get if they are to challenge for silverware.
In the recently concluded season, Arsenal secured a second-place finish in the Premier League but were ultimately overtaken by champions Manchester City in the title race. The Gunners are eager to put an end to their 20-year wait for the most prestigious prize in English football in May 2024, although it will be a challenging task.
Liverpool, Tottenham, and Chelsea are expected to make a strong comeback next season after failing to qualify for the Champions League. Additionally, Manchester United and Newcastle have ambitions of building upon their respective third and fourth-place finishes.
Arsenal’s last major trophies were the FA Cup and the Community Shield, both won in 2020. After a seven-year absence, the team will finally compete in the Champions League next season, marking a significant return to Europe’s elite club competition.
High-stakes Battle: Record-breaking Arsenal Wonderkid’s Future Hangs in the Balance as Man Utd and Chelsea Emerge as Fierce Competitors