Mikel Arteta has revealed that despite Ethan Nwaneri’s impressive performances for Arsenal this season, the 17-year-old midfielder is still not permitted to use the club’s senior dressing room due to his age.
Nwaneri, who made history as the youngest player to ever feature in a Premier League match at just 15 years old, has continued to make a name for himself at Arsenal. The talented youngster has recently played a pivotal role for the Gunners, scoring a crucial goal in the Champions League against Girona and producing a spectacular long-range strike in Arsenal’s 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City. His rapid rise has highlighted his immense potential, making him one of the club’s most promising young stars.
Despite these achievements, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta explained that Nwaneri still has to get changed in a separate dressing room and is not allowed to be part of the senior squad’s changing area on match days. The reason, Arteta revealed, is due to the club’s policy regarding young players under a certain age. He noted that another young talent, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who turned 18 in September, has been allowed to join the senior dressing room, but Nwaneri must wait until he reaches the required age.
Speaking about the situation, Arteta expressed his surprise at the rule, calling it “unbelievable” that Nwaneri is still unable to change with the first-team players despite regularly featuring for them. However, he also acknowledged the strong bond between Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, emphasizing how crucial friendships and support systems are for young players as they transition into senior football.
Arsenal now turns their attention to a crucial Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle United, where they must overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg at St. James’ Park.
Ahead of this important fixture, Arteta also spoke about Arsenal’s failure to secure a new striker in the January transfer window, admitting his frustration with the club’s inability to strengthen the squad in that area. The manager explained that Arsenal had been actively looking for reinforcements, hoping to sign a player who could make an immediate impact. However, he stressed that the club is committed to signing only the right type of player and would not compromise its recruitment strategy just to bring someone in.
Despite missing out on a new forward, Arteta remains confident in the attacking options at his disposal. He highlighted the need for flexibility in Arsenal’s front line and mentioned several players who could step up in the absence of a new signing. He pointed to the likes of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and even Raheem Sterling as potential solutions, while also suggesting that Ethan Nwaneri could be an option to contribute in attack.
With Arsenal still competing on multiple fronts, Arteta hinted that adapting their approach in the final third might be necessary. While the failure to sign a striker is disappointing, he believes the squad has enough versatility to cope with the challenge. However, whether Arsenal’s lack of a new center-forward will hurt their chances of winning silverware remains to be seen.
