As the Arsenal players headed over to their fans at Deepdale following their comfortable victory at Preston, one name was chanted over and over again.
“He’s one of our own, he’s one of our own, Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own,” sang the 5,600 away supporters, whose reward for travelling to Preston on a wet Wednesday night was a dazzling performance from the 17-year-old.
Academy manager Per Mertesacker, who had made the trip up to watch, could not resist grabbing his phone at the full-time whistle and capturing the moment by filming it.
Youth coaches have always thought Nwaneri was destined for the top and, during his first week as Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta called the then Under-16 head coach Dan Micciche to his office to discuss the midfielder.
Nwaneri was only 12 then, but he is quickly blossoming into a genuine option in Arteta’s first-team squad.
Arsenal showed their faith in the teenager this summer by selling Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham and allowing Fabio Vieira to join Porto on loan. The belief was Nwaneri could take their minutes and, so far, he has seized the opportunity.
His stunning goal in the 3-0 win at Preston added to his two in the last round of the Carabao Cup meant he became the youngest player in Arsenal history to score in their first two starts for the club.
The fear for Nwaneri now, though, will be that those chances to shine could diminish given that Martin Odegaard is closing in on a return
The Arsenal captain is hoping to be back for next week’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan after nearly two months out with an ankle injury.
That is a blow for Nwaneri, whose minutes this season have come when playing in the right No8 role usually occupied by Odegaard. He will now have to adapt and be comfortable getting chances anywhere across Arsenal’s attacking unit.
It is a path young players have trodden before, most notably at Manchester City by Phil Foden, who Gabriel Jesus referenced when discussing Nwaneri after the Preston win.
Foden often plays on the right now, but he is comfortable operating on the left, as a No10 or even as a false nine, if required.
He’s a big talent, he’s got the right attitude ... we need to make sure that we put brick by brick in the right order, but we have some player here.
Nwaneri views his best position as a No10 or No8, which is a belief shared by coaches, but in the search for more minutes he may get shifted around.
“In a 4-2-3-1, he played as a No10, in between the lines, creating and scoring goals,” Micciche, who coached Arsenal at youth level, tells Standard Sport.
“In the system that Arsenal play with a single pivot and the two No8s, it (his best position) would probably be where Odegaard plays, as the right No8 so he can cut in.
“If he ever played as No9 it was as a false nine, he could drop in and link the play because he had such a good shot from outside the box as well. He was never asked to run channels and run in behind.
“Ethan has always been an attacking player, generally centrally, but he is so capable of receiving the ball in different areas of the pitch - right, left, middle.”
Arteta and Arsenal will certainly be confident that Nwaneri can be moved around the pitch.
He played as a left No8 against Manchester United in pre-season and even assisted a goal for Jesus.
Nwaneri has slotted seamlessly into the first-team environment. He is not the loudest, as was the case when he was in the academy, but there is a quiet confidence about him.
“I think sometimes people can misunderstand confidence with arrogance,” says Micciche.
The Arsenal squad have been so impressed with Nwaneri that during a resounding win at West Ham last season, they were whispering in Arteta’s ear to give the teenager minutes.
Arteta confident Nwaneri can handle the spotlight on him. A boyhood Arsenal fan, he rejected lucrative offers from elsewhere to sign his first professional contract this year.
Nwaneri’s family have always worked to ensure he stays humble and grounded. Indeed, even after making his debut as a 15-year-old at Brentford two years ago, he handed in his homework at St John’s School in Enfield the following day.
“He’s a big talent, he’s got the right attitude,” said Arteta. “He’s got the right players and context around him and we need to make sure that we put brick by brick in the right order, but we have some player here.
“So much personality there, he wants every ball, he wants to make things happen. His work ethic is tremendous and he loves what he does, you can tell that.”
