Arsenal Academy Scout: Ethan Nwaneri Destined To Go All The Way

By The Editor
on 22nd August 2024

Arsenal academy scout waxes lyrical about Ethan Nwaneri…

Arsenal academy scout Joe Black waxed lyrical about Gunners starlet Ethan Nwaneri and predicted that the playmaker will reach the pinnacle, he told Rising Ballers.

Nwaneri signed his first professional contract in March after turning 17 and while he only made one first-team appearance last season, the Hale End star was being integrated into the senior squad during pre-season.

Mikel Arteta took a number of youngsters on our pre-season tour of America given the shortage of first-team names available following a summer of international excursions.

However, upon returning to London for the two friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon – only three starlets were given minutes. Nwaneri – alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ayden Heaven – remained within the first-team framework.

Nwaneri’s ascension continued after he was named on the substitute bench for our opening Premier League game against Wolves and Black reiterated that the noise around the England youth international is justified.

“The thing that impresses me most about him is his temperament,” Black was quoted as saying.

“He’s very, very grounded. For me, that’s key to learning and getting better – not believing the hype.

“I don’t think it (the hype) affects him negatively, he’s just so calm and composed. He’s got that determination in his eyes.

“He seems like he’s destined to go all the way,” the former Chelsea scout concluded.

Every so often a talent emerges from the youth ranks that is so highly-rated that even a loan spell away is deemed unnecessary for their development.

With the window about to close and Nwaneri already in the matchday squad, one suspects that Arteta views him as another member of his squad and will treat him as such.