via Reuters
Arsenal may be prompted into a rethink of Ethan Nwaneri's future after the youngster impressed again for Mikel Arteta's team against Como at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners were held to a draw by the Italian side, meaning they finish their pre-season campaign with just one win from four matches. Myles Lewis-Skelly's neat finish was cancelled out by Martin Baturina's sensational solo goal on the stroke of half-time, condemning Arteta's outfit to a third straight friendly match without victory.
Bruno Guimaraes stole the headlines by making his debut in the middle of the park, following his £75 million switch from Newcastle United, but another man arguably emerged as the player with the most credit in the bank.
Nwaneri, who has been intensely linked with an exit, with Arsenal said to be open to letting him leave this summer, made some outstanding contributions in his 45-minute cameo, reminding Arteta of his quality.
Ethan Nwaneri Shines Against Como
Ethan Nwaneri
Arteta has been without several senior midfielders throughout pre-season, with the likes of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard all enjoying their holidays following their World Cup endeavours.
These absences have given Nwaneri a chance to showcase his talents in front of Arteta, the Spaniard's coaching staff and the Arsenal supporters over the last four matches. While most of the aforementioned players were back in action on Wednesday evening, the Hale End graduate was still named in the starting eleven.
Deployed in a midfield three alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly and Eze, Nwaneri was tasked with dropping deep to involve himself in build-up and pushing forward to press Como high up the pitch.
The 19-year-old was particularly effective with the latter task, making some excellent defensive interventions in advanced areas which led to dangerous moments for the Gunners. Having previously had his defensive credentials questioned, this was an encouraging sign of development, and the defensively stringent Arteta would no doubt have been delighted.
Ethan Nwaneri's Stats vs Como
Minutes Played
Touches
Accurate Passes
Chances Created
Passes into the Final Third
Touches in Opposition Box
Dispossessed
In possession, Nwaneri was steady, completing 81% of his passes, while he produced a moment of magic inside the box to create a chance for Piero Hincapie, utilising his quick feet before back-heeling the ball into the Ecuadorian's path.
Hooked at the break alongside a number of others, Nwaneri was only granted a half to show what he could do, but he'll hope this performance was enough for Arsenal to reconsider his status on the transfer list.
Arsenal Should Consider Loaning Ethan Nwaneri
Ethan Nwaneri
Nwaneri, described previously by football analyst Ben Mattinson as 'phenomenal', undoubtedly possesses talent. He boasts exceptional technical quality, while he has all the physical tools required to compete at the highest level.
For Arteta and his coaches, it's about refining the youngster's game so that he becomes more productive across the board.
The problem for the player is that there is no obvious pathway into the first team for him. Odegaard, Eze and even Max Dowman are arguably ahead of him in the pecking order, and it's therefore difficult to envisage a world where Nwaneri becomes a regular in Arteta's team.
However, after witnessing the starlet's raw talent against Como, the Gunners will surely think twice about sanctioning his departure this summer. While he could garner a fee in excess of £40 million, which could help fund moves for left-sided attackers, he could also develop into an £80 million player within the next 12 months.
That said, the only way his stock will increase is if he enjoys a successful loan spell elsewhere. Como themselves were linked with Nwaneri earlier this summer, and the Serie A club may be the perfect destination for the youngster to continue his development.
Come next summer, Arsenal can either keep hold of their academy product, or they'll potentially have a significantly more valuable asset at their disposal to sell. Either way, they simply should not sell the player in the remaining weeks of the current window.
All Statistics via FotMob - correct as of 13/08/2026.