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Arteta will keep a key star | Getty Images
Arsenal look to have done some huge business aside from their transfers.
Arsenal look to have made a breakthrough in their contract negotiations with Ethan Nwaneri. The Gunners have spent months trying to convince their young star to pen a new deal, and they had to survive interest from Chelsea in recent weeks.
Mikel Arteta will have been desperate to keep Nwaneri, who is one of the best young players in Europe, and it could prove to be one of the best pieces of business the Gunners do all summer - and it’s set to be a very busy summer.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday: “Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Ethan Nwaneri over new deal! After progress in talks reported last weekend, Nwaneri and his camp have now agreed to sign new contract at the club. Ethan always gave priority to #AFC despite interest from several clubs.”
Nwaneri proved a key player last season, and his versatility is particularly important for Arsenal, who lacked depth last season. Arteta said of the youngster last season: “That's what we love about him - he's very aggressive. Before that [goal], he had another action where he made the right choice, he went for it. He never [looks nervous], he's so composed, calm and confident in his ability. At 17, scoring a really important goal in the Champions League is not very common."
The adoration is mutual, too, with Nwaneri telling The Athletic: “There’s a lot to learn from Mikel (Arteta). 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.”
Nwaneri has even show understanding when not playing so much, adding: “Going from playing quite a lot to not playing as much is normal in football. So I don’t really take it to heart. I understand Mikel’s got a decision to make at the end of the day, and it’s hard for him to make. He obviously wants to include everyone but he can’t. But I think it’s part of football and it’s those times that can really define where you’re going to be. I think I’ve dealt with it well. I’m in a good place mentally and physically.”
Arsenal deserve praise for Nwaneri patience
Arsenal have shown real patience in trying to get a deal done for Nwaneri, ignoring all the noise suggesting that negotiations were not going well. Interest from Chelsea had the potential to bust open the talks, especially given Chelsea’s eagerness and willingness to sign and play young players in recent times
But even while being desperate to get a deal done for Noni Madueke, they put Nwaneri first and took him off the table, even at the risk of losing out on Madueke. The Gunners made it clear they wanted to keep the youngster, that they see him as a big part of their plans going forward, and they now get their reward. Increasingly so in the modern game, these negotiations with talented young players are not going smoothly, so credit where it’s due, Arsenal have stayed the course and got the job done.
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