Ethan Nwaneri issues message to Arsenal fans amid Bukayo Saka situation
Ethan Nwaneri took to social media to send a message to Arsenal fans after his first Premier League start in their win vs Brentford.
The 17-year-old started in the right-wing position to replace the injured Bukayo Saka and helped the Gunners beat their London rivals 3-1 on Wednesday (1 January).
He has featured in the league before but has only started in the Carabao Cup. The youngster didn’t manage any goal contributions, but his performance against the Bees won Player of the match voted by Arsenal fans [via Arsenal on X].
He took to Instagram to celebrate the victory, captioning his post: “Great team performance – Happy new year”.
Teammates such as Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba all showed appreciation by liking the post.
Mikel Arteta trusts youth as Arsenal injury woes continue
Football Insider opinion
Mikel Arteta has faced injuries to key players this season, including Martin Ødegaard, Rice, and now Saka.
With news that their star winger will be sidelined for several months, questions have arisen about whether the club will enter the transfer market for reinforcements.
Football Insider has revealed that the North London club are indeed targeting a move for another forward in the transfer window.
However, after Nwaneri’s standout performance and with Raheem Sterling expected to return in a couple of weeks, the Spanish manager might consider other options.
The academy graduate has already scored four goals in just 17 appearances—a promising return in his debut season.
Arteta’s team have frequently been linked with strikers, the latest being Victor Osimhen, suggesting the striker position might be a higher priority.
Despite Gabriel Jesus’s impressive run of six goals in four games, it’s understandable if the hierarchy are reluctant to rely solely on his form and choose to pursue a new number nine.
One thing is certain, youngsters like Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have saved the club a significant amount of money while continuing to make an impact on the team.
In other news, Arsenal fans are urging the club to sign a Premier League star.
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