Who is Ethan Nwaneri? Profile of Arsenal wonderkid and youngest EPL player

Arsenal have named teenage creative midfielder Ethan Nwaneri in their Premier League squad to face Brentford.

The 15-year-old has clearly impressed boss Mikel Arteta in his performances for the under-21s side so far this season and he has been rewarded with a place on the bench at the Brentford Community Stadium.

Nwaneri has been training with the first team squad for the last few weeks after impressing for the U18s and U21s this season. He is seen to be a player with a huge future at the Emirates Stadium and has been handed the number 83 shirt.

In 2021, he had marked his under-18s debut with a stunning strike against Reading at just 14-years-old, catching the eye of Gunners supporters who are hoping for big things from the promising talent.

If Arteta was to put him on against the Bees, Nwaneri would become the youngest ever player in the Premier League. He was born in March 2007 after the Emirates Stadium had opened.

With injuries to captain Martin Odegaard and summer-signing Oleksandr Zinchenko, the Spaniard took the opportunity to add youth to his matchday squad with Nwaneri and 17-year-old Lino Sousa on the bench.

Speaking ahead of their clash with the Bees, Arteta said: “We have the opportunity to bring young players, we didn’t over the last few weeks. Pretty short but opportunities come when injuries arrive.”

Arsenal fans will now be hoping he can continue his development and follow the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka to become a young star at the club.