There's no denying that Ethan Nwaneri had a breakout season for Arsenal during the 2024/25 campaign.
The 18-year-old made 37 appearances under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, with the teenager scoring nine goals and contributing two assists. Considering he made just one appearance for the senior side in the season before - a 13-minute cameo against West Ham - the Hale Ender has come on leaps and bounds over the past 12 months.
Nwaneri will want to contribute more, though. He spent 1,378 minutes on the pitch for the Gunners last season with many of his appearances coming from the bench. Capable of playing on the right wing, in attacking midfield or even as a makeshift No.9, Nwaneri's talent is undeniable and it's clear he has a bright future in the game.
The youngster is currently showcasing his talent with England Under-21s at the European U21 Championship in Slovakia. He was a second half substitute as England beat Spain 3-1 on Saturday to secure a place in the semi-finals, with the young Three Lions playing Netherlands in the last four on Wednesday.
Nwaneri has featured in all four of England Under-21s' games so far, although he is yet to contribute with a goal or assist. If England do progress past Netherlands, they will face one of Germany or France in the final, which the match scheduled for Saturday, June 28 in Bratislava.
As per FIFA guidelines, players must have a three-week break following the conclusion of the season, which will impact Nwaneri and when he can return to pre-season training with Arsenal. If England Under-21s get to Saturday's final, Nwaneri could start pre-season training on July 19. A defeat to Netherlands would mean the teenager can join up with the Gunners squad on July 16.
football.london understands Arteta, his coaching staff and the playing squad will jet off to Asia on July 19 for the club's pre-season tour. Games against AC Milan and Newcastle are scheduled to take place in Singapore, while the Gunners will meet north London rivals Tottenham in Hong Kong on July 31 before returning the UK.
So, while Nwaneri is not expected to meet up with the Arsenal squad for the beginning of pre-season at the start of July, it's possible the teenager meets up with his teammates just before flying to Singapore. Judging by Nwaneri's comments on Arteta earlier this month, he will want to join up with the Spaniard as soon as possible to continue learning and make his mark ahead of the new season.
"There's a lot to learn from Mikel [Arteta]," he told The Athletic. "If you ever met him, you'd see how intense he is. How he's so good with his words and he knows what he's saying. He's elevated my game, definitely. There's so much, not even just tactically but mentally too.
"On a personal level, he's helped me a lot. He's really big on body language and the way that he presents himself. He puts that onto me. Before, maybe the way that I'd walk or slouch a bit or just the way I'd be sitting, he's onto everything. That's helped me just sharpen up in my mind and it's helped me a lot."