Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was made aware of the club’s promising talent, Ethan Nwaneri, early in his tenure at the Emirates. In a conversation with then Under-16s coach Dan Micciche, Arteta learned that Nwaneri could be the “next Phil Foden.”
Despite a tough start, with increasing calls for his ousting, Arteta stayed resolute. He secured an FA Cup win in 2020, which bought him time, but early losses in the 2021/22 season tested fan patience. Nevertheless, the mantra of “trust the process” endured.
Now, Arteta has not only built a competitive first team but has also made significant investments in the youth system. His commitment to developing young players was clear from his discussions with Micciche about Nwaneri’s future. Even at just 12, Nwaneri was already excelling in the Under-16s, with qualities akin to Manchester City’s Foden.
Micciche noted Nwaneri’s impressive decision-making and advocated for him to play with the Under-18s at 14. This proved prescient when Nwaneri became Arsenal’s youngest debutant at 15 during a match against Brentford in September 2022.
Since then, Nwaneri has continued to shine, recently scoring twice in Arsenal’s League Cup win over Bolton Wanderers, leading to speculation about his inclusion in upcoming Premier League matches. With Arteta’s focus on youth development, the search for the “next Ethan Nwaneri” is already in motion as he scouts for future talents.
