The number of players that have advanced through the Hale End academy to feature in the Arsenal first team have seen a drastic increase over recent years. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah are perfect examples in Mikel Arteta's current squad, but there could be a new star on the scene in the near future.
Ethan Nwaneri is a name recognised by Arsenal supporters after becoming the youngest player to feature in the Premier League at just 15 years and 181 days when he came off the bench in the Gunners' 3-0 win over Brentford in September. The moment highlighted the good work done within the club's academy and gave us a brief look at what the future holds in north London.
Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta cited Nwaneri's attitude in training as the reason to bring the Hale End product on: "It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy (and) really liked what I saw," the Gunners boss said. "Per Mertesacker and the academy staff are giving me really good information, Edu as well. I met him, he's trained a couple of times with us. Yesterday he had to come because we have injuries."
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Fast forward a couple of months, Nwaneri has not been seen in the first team since but has continued his development in one of the best possible ways under ex-Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. Wilshere is currently the Under-18s manager after re-joining the club in the summer and plays a key role in the development of some of the club's brightest prospects.
The teenager has continued his impressive form for Wilshere's side with five goals contribution in four Premier League U18 fixtures and bagged a nine-minute brace in the recent 3-3 Premier League Cup draw with Manchester City. He has also made three further appearances for England Under-17s, scoring against Lithuania and Georgia during the October break,
And following the draw against United, Wilshere had nothing but good words to say about Nwaneri. "In the first half, he tried to find the spaces, playing in people's backs and creating space for himself, and we couldn't find him a little bit," he said.
"In the second half, he was very good. He was unplayable at times. He had a few good moments. In the second half a lot of players stepped up a level, we found some more space.
"We spoke to them a little bit at halftime about few tactical things which allowed Ethan to free up. We had a really good balance in the team and Ethan was good in the second half."
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