Ethan Nwaneri has turned 18, reaching a significant milestone for his Arsenal career and gaining some new privileges as a result. Those who tune into the Gunners' press conferences and coverage may remember an insight from Mikel Arteta on having a then 17-year-old Nwaneri in his group.
Due to child protection laws, until turning 18, young players must change separately from the senior adult members of the group. Speaking about the dynamic between Nwaneri and 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who have broken through this season, Arteta revealed this to those unaware of the policies.
"When you see those two [Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri] walking next to each other, talking to each other, there is a bond there and a chemistry there," Arteta said ahead of the Gunners’ Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle earlier in the year.
"I imagine for them it is special because at the moment they are still in different dressing rooms. So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it is lucky."
It was a fact that managed to bemuse even some of the higher-profile names in the sport. Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher was even confused about the dynamic of the youngster changing apart from his adult teammates.
"Don't forget there was an interview and Arteta was talking about the fact the two young kids Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly don't actually get changed with the first team players," he said. "We have all been there when you play a few games for the first team, but even your own manager is trying to keep you [down] and don't let you get too carried away."
This was in response to the discourse beginning to swirl around Lewis-Skelly in particular which has sadly continued into his senior England call-up. Carragher, mistakenly claiming that Lewis-Skelly being 18 already does get changed with the senior group, only furthered the misconceptions on the topic.
Nwaneri, however, has more than earned his inclusion with the squad this season from the training ground to the matchday selection. Breaking through at just 15 years of age to make his debut and become the Premier League's youngest player there is plenty more expected from the attacking midfielder.
Where he might play when Bukayo Saka returns is of course another exciting prospect which could be coming as soon as next month. He and Lewis-Skelly are both incredibly exciting players expected to have a lasting impression on the club.
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