Ethan Nwaneri set a new Arsenal club record when he fired home the opener against Brighton on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old is already being labelled as the Gunners new ‘Starboy’ after breaking into Mikel Arteta’s side this season.
That title currently belongs to fellow academy graduate Bukayo Saka. However, the winger will surely be happy to share the mantle with the impressive Nwaneri.
The Enfield-born rising starlet had only made two Premier League appearances before this season. Due to his meteoric rise, Nwaneri has now featured in 12 top-flight games in 2024/25.
That figure will increase rapidly. Not only due to his brilliant form, but Saka faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Supporters would have been very worried about the news of Saka’s diagnosis. Nonetheless, Nwaneri has already proved he can perfectly fill the void on the right-hand side.
Predominantly an attacking midfielder, Nwaneri can play in a variety of positions but is perhaps most comfortable in the no 10 role.
Ethan Nwaneri is the first player to score more than one PL goal for @Arsenal before his 18th birthday 😮💨#BHAARS pic.twitter.com/nAMaI9bnq3
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 4, 2025
Ethan Nwaneri Sets Arsenal Club Record
Ethan Nwaneri set a new Arsenal club record on gameweek 20. He is the first Gunner to score multiple Premier League goals before turning 18.
The amazing feat was secured when the teenager burst down the right-hand side and cut inside to finish with aplomb past Bart Verbruggen.
Nwaneri now has two top-flight goals to his name. Both came this season with his maiden strike coming in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in November.
In terms of timing, Nwaneri couldn’t have netted in a more perfect setting. New England boss Thomas Tuchel was in the stands at the Amex to see his goal against Brighton.
Tuchel was present during Newcastle’s 2-1 win at Tottenham earlier in the day. However, the German gaffer will be hugely impressed by Nwaneri’s south coast exploits. Despite coming off at half-time for Gabriel Martinelli.
The Three Lions are not in action until March but at this rate, Tuchel will find it hard not to include the 17-year-old in his maiden squad.
According to the best football betting sites, England can be backed at 7/1 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Brazil and France.
6+1 – Ethan Nwaneri (2 goals) became just the sixth player to score more than one Premier League goal before turning 18 years old after Wayne Rooney (7), Michael Owen (5), Danny Cadamarteri (3), James Milner (3) and Federico Macheda (2), and the first to do so for Arsenal.… pic.twitter.com/ecuruNKeeu
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 4, 2025
