ARSENAL players were calling for Mikel Arteta to bring on Ethan Nwaneri against West Ham.
The Gunners boss revealed he could hear his substitutes whispering “bring Ethan in”, during their 6-0 win on Sunday.
GettyEthan Nwaneri’s Arsenal team-mates were calling for Mikel Arteta to bring him on[/caption]
GettyThe 16-year-old made his second senior appearance against West Ham on Sunday[/caption]
Nwaneri was handed his second Premier League appearance off the bench at the London Stadium.
When asked about his performance after the match, Arteta explained: “There is something you have to earn in your team and that’s the trust of your team-mates.
“I had two things. One the players on the bench whispering ‘bring Ethan in’ which is a great thing to hear. The second thing is for your team-mates to give you the ball all the time.
“If they do that, it’s because they really trust you and you only have to see how many times he was involved to see that. It’s a great sign.”
Arsenal fans were thrilled with the news on social media, with one writing: “My club,” along with a love heart emoji.
Another added: “The culture at this club is sooo good right now.”
A third supporter also commented: “The players on the bench were all of us.”
Meanwhile, one more said: “Love that. They know how talented he is.”
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Nwaneri replaced Gabriel Martinelli in the 77th minute for his first Premier League appearance since September 2022.
His only previous league action saw the 16-year-old become the youngest player in Premier League history.
He came off the bench against Brentford aged 15 years, five months and 28 days last season.
Nwaneri, who is an England Under-17 international, is highly regarded at the Emirates Stadium and signed a new contract in June.
Following reported interest from Chelsea and Manchester City, the youngster extended his scholarship deal until his 17th birthday on March 21, before his first professional contract begins.
The teenager’s pro deal is understood to run through until the summer of 2026.
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