Emerson Nwaneri scored against Tottenham to break into Arsenal U18s record books
Abbie Meehan Sports Writer U-35s
14:11, 18 Feb 2026
Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2025 in London, England.
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Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal (Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Ethan Nwaneri's younger brother, Emerson, may have etched his name into Arsenal's record books, but couldn't quite match his sibling's achievements.
The 15-year-old became the fifth youngest scorer in U18s history after netting against north London rivals Tottenham.
Despite his strike, the young Gunner was unable to inspire his side to victory, with Spurs U18s emerging 4-1 winners at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. Whilst the goal will undoubtedly hold special significance for the teenager, his elder brother Ethan maintains a record advantage over him.
The current Arsenal player, now on a temporary loan at Olympique de Marseille, remains the youngest goalscorer in the category after netting at merely 14 years of age.
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However, Emerson did set his own milestone earlier this year. He became the youngest-ever player to start for Arsenal's U21s, featuring in Premier League 2 against Liverpool.
The 15-year-old has shown considerable promise, notably scoring a hat-trick in a 4-3 triumph over Chelsea U16s earlier in the season.
His progression has caught the attention of Arsenal's senior decision-makers, leading to a scholarship agreement for the 2026/27 campaign.
Meanwhile, elder sibling Ethan has been sent to France on loan following limited opportunities under manager Mikel Arteta.
Angelinou Pedro and Emerson Nwaneri of Arsenal before the UEFA Youth League 2025/26 match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern München at Meadow Park on November 26, 2025 in Borehamwood, England.
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Emerson Nwaneri made history in north London(Image: David Price, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
He has featured four times for the Ligue 1 outfit, finding the back of the net once across 215 minutes. Since Roberto De Zerbi's mutual agreement to leave last week, Nwaneri has yet to make an appearance, remaining on the bench during a 2-2 draw with Strasbourg at the weekend.
Whether Emerson will be able to emulate his older brother's journey in north London remains to be seen. Despite loaning out Ethan, Arteta appears to hold the young player in high regard and doesn't regret allowing him to seek more consistent playing time elsewhere.
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Addressing his growing list of injured players, the Arsenal boss said: "After making the decision, who could have predicted that Mikel [Merino] was going to be out for five months and Kai [Havertz]?
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"It's unfortunate, in the end we have to make the decisions in the moment, understanding the context there.
"The best decision for the club, for Ethan, was for him to go and experience a different environment, have minutes played, and get ready to come back to us."
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