Over the years, Arsenal has made use of the thriving talent from their esteemed Hale End program, as seen in the team Mikel Arteta chose during his rule.
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Bukayo Saka, who has been a member of the team since he was eight years old, has continued to advance under the guidance of the Spaniard, whose market worth, according to CIES, has reached an astounding €200 million (£170.5 million), marking a significant milestone in his ascent.
As a fresh crop of talent eye the first team, Arsenal’s trajectory of integrating the stars of the future is expected to continue. Ethan Nwaneri, a superstar prodigy, is one of them.
Ethan Nwaneri: who is he?
One name that comes up frequently when discussing Arsenal’s current crop of academy players is 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
When it was revealed that the club had signed the midfielder to a scholarship contract with his first professional agreement on the table for when he turns 17, there had been rumors earlier in the summer about the teen’s future. The rumors were immediately put to rest.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal will last for 2.6 years and include the “highest salary offer” the Gunners have ever offered for an academy player, demonstrating how highly regarded he is at the Emirates.
Deployed in central attacking midfield with the ability to drift onto the left wing, the lively forward has shown his worth in the academy side to get people talking over his potential breakthrough into the senior squad.
How good is Ethan Nwaneri?
Lauded as “special” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Nwaneri has already broken records for the Gunners, becoming the youngest ever player to play in the Premier League at 15 years, five months and 28 days old.
The youngster has all the ability to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Saka, as highlighted by his electrifying start to the 2023/24 Premier League 2 so far, in which he’s scored four goals in four appearances.
Arteta may rest easy knowing that Martin Odegaard’s successor may one day be in his ranks because the elusive Londoner plays at a position and with a playing style that are comparable to those of the Emirates captain.
Odegaard’s decline in standings due to age and form seems far off, but Nwaneri’s breakout may occur alongside the Norwegian rather than in his place because one name already appears to be a potential weak link in the chain.
Kai Havertz, who cost an astounding £65 million to acquire from Chelsea, has had an odd start to life in the north of the capital, where he has been criticized for his performances in the background of Arsenal’s complex midfield.
The Hale End sensation, who is only 16, has a long way to go before he can win over the Emirates, but after seeing others succeed, it might happen sooner rather than later for the dynamic midfielder. Be careful, Havertz.
