Mikel Arteta has revealed that the rapid extent of Ethan Nwaneri’s progress has meant he isn’t even old enough to change in the Arsenal first team dressing room.
The prodigious 17-year-old enhanced his burgeoning reputation with two more outstanding performances last week.
Nwaneri marked the first Champions League start of his career with a superb goal in a 2-1 win over Girona seven days ago, before he delivered another eye-catching cameo off the bench in Sunday’s thrashing of Manchester City which he capped with another spectacular long-range strike.
Arsenal have had high hopes for a player who became the youngest to represent the club at first team level when he made his debut over two years ago aged just 15.
England recognition, initially at Under-21 level, is certain to follow but safeguarding rules mean that, unlike fellow breakthrough star Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri still isn’t allowed to change in the dressing room on matchdays.
‘When you see those two (Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri) walking next to each other, talking to each other, there is a bond there and a chemistry there,’ said Arteta.
‘I imagine for them it is special because at the moment they are still in different dressing rooms [at the training ground].
‘Ethan cannot be in our dressing room still, which is unbelievable. He needs to get dressed somewhere else, even on match day.
‘So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it is lucky. They are very lucky to have each other.’
Arteta, meanwhile, admits he was disappointed Arsenal did not sign a new striker but believes it is not a gamble in the club’s bid for Premier League glory.
The Gunners ramped up their pursuit of a forward after Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending injury in their FA Cup exit against Manchester United on January 12.
But after they fell short in their swoop to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa – a move it is understood appears unlikely even in the summer – Arsenal will continue their quest for silverware with only Kai Havertz as their sole recognised senior striker.
A frustrated Arteta said he will now have to be ‘very flexible’ with his attacking tactics as the Spaniard tasked Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Raheem Sterling and even Nwaneri with leading the line if Havertz is unavailable.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s second leg of their semi-final Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Wednesday night, Arteta said: ‘We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. And we haven’t achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense.
‘We are very aware that we only want to bring a certain kind of player in and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.
‘After you don’t achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We’ll know probably at the end of the season.
‘But we’re going to have to be very flexible with the front line. Leo can play in that position. Raheem has played in that position. Ethan, I think, can play in that position. Martinelli can play there, too. At some point, we’re going to have to try something different.’
Arsenal failed with a late transfer move for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins
Havertz, 25, has faced criticism this season and missed a glaring opportunity in Arsenal’s 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City on Sunday.
However, the former Chelsea man did get his name on the scoresheet in the rout which keeps Arsenal’s title dream alive and has returned 15 goals from 33 appearances so far this term.
Of Arsenal’s failed striker pursuit, Arteta continued: ‘It’s not a gamble, it’s reality and we have to face the reality. I am not worried. Now I focus on the numbers that we have, how to maximise them, how to make the best out of them.
‘With all the problems that we have already had, it’s remarkable what the team has done (this season) so I have full faith in them.’
Arsenal are 2-0 down to Newcastle heading into Wednesday’s fixture, following a disappointing defeat in the opening leg at the Emirates a fortnight ago.
But Arteta is confident the boost of their statement victory against City could yet propel them to the final on March 16.
‘The next stop is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is and you can feel it,” said Arteta.
‘The momentum is with us and we have a break (after the game against Newcastle) so now is the the moment to go full gas.
‘We’re excited, willing, hungry and enthusiastic because we are very close to playing a final and hopefully we can achieve that tomorrow.’
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