Arsenal manager was impressed with Ethan Nwaneri in his first Premier League start in the comeback 3-1 win over Brentford on New Year’s Day, Afrosport reports.
Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo had put the Bees ahead after 13 minutes before Gabriel Jesus levelled towards the half hour mark and Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli added in the second half.
Nwaneri was handed his Arsenal debut against Brentford in a league match on September 18, 2022.
He however started on the right flank on Wednesday evening ahead of Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling who are currently injured. He made a good account for himself for the 78 minutes he was on the pitch before being replaced by Leandro Trossard.
“Ethan [Nwaneri] making his Premier League debut, anyone that you put there, [they had the] right attitude, right level of performance and that sustains the level of the team,” Arteta told the club website.
“Ethan’s played here before, so that’s a nice story, to get back to this one, I think he was really composed, really determined, taking risks, taking initiative. Very impressive.”
A first Premier League start for Ethan Nwaneri ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/PYuCL27RLr
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 1, 2025
On Nwaneri’s development, Arteta added: “Part of that development is patience, managing frustration or managing expectation, or you expect that everything is going to go so fast, like the previous things happen and it’s not the case.
“So we’re building him, he’s already played a lot of games a lot of minutes for the age that he’s got and he fully deserves that.”
Arsenal’s win took them within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand. They will next travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening.
