Arsenal to unleash Ethan Nwaneri 'more and more' in 2025 as expert excited

Arsenal icon Alan Smith expects to see plenty more of exciting Gunners prospect Ethan Nwaneri in 2025. The teenager has broken into Mikel Arteta’s first team this season and seems set to be the next Hale End graduate to become a huge fans’ favourite.

Nwaneri has been forced to be patient for regular involvement with the senior team since becoming Arsenal’s youngest-ever player aged 15 in 2022. But he has excelled when given the opportunity and, alongside fellow graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly, has earned Arteta’s trust.

The 17-year-old has scored four goals in 15 appearances across all competitions this season, including bagging his first Premier League strike in a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Former striker Smith is keen to see more of Nwaneri next year. He told Express Sport, via Ace Odds: “He’s such a talent and Arteta clearly knows that. He’s been careful with him but whenever he’s in come on, he’s not look fazed one little bit. He knows he’s at home at the top level.

“He wants the ball and you will see more and more of him. He’s capable of playing from the left or the right. Whatever. But it’s wonderful.

“Given that [Eddie] Nketiah, [Emile] Smith Rowe [have gone], and Reiss Nelson has gone to Fulham on loan as well, you’ve lost some of these academy players. It’s great to have another one coming up to the first team now because fans love that. It’s great to see the academy producing a player of that quality. It really is.”

Nwaneri’s versatility is set to stand him in good stead as he battles for increased game time in the second half of the 2024-25 season. He can play as a No. 10 or out wide and has played in a deeper midfield role during his England youth career.

Arteta revealed earlier this month that he plans to coach Nwaneri to play as a centre-forward. That could land him more game time given Arsenal’s struggles in the position.

“Ethan can play as a right attacking midfielder, a left attacking midfielder,” said Arteta. “He can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into – No. 9.

“He has got the goal in front of him and he looks at the goal and he has a tremendous ability to put the ball in the back of the net.”