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Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri has opened up on the remarkable influence of manager Mikel Arteta, revealing how the Spaniard’s attention to detail has transformed not just his football, but also his posture and body language.
The 18-year-old forward, who remains Arsenal’s youngest-ever debutant after making his senior bow against Brentford in 2022, has enjoyed a breakthrough season under Arteta. With nine goals in 37 appearances across all competitions, Nwaneri emerged as a key figure during an injury-hit campaign for the Gunners, earning plaudits for his composure and creativity.
Speaking about Arteta’s impact, Nwaneri highlighted the Arsenal boss’s famously intense nature and how it has shaped him both on and off the pitch.
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“There’s a lot to learn from Mikel,” Nwaneri told Arsenal Media. “If you ever met him, you’d see how intense he is. He’s so good with his words and he knows what he’s saying. On a personal level as well, he’s helped me a lot. He’s elevated my game, definitely. He’s really big on body language and the way that he presents himself. He puts that on to me.
Ethan Nwaneri: “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.
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“Before, maybe just the way that I’d walk or slouch a bit or just the way I’d be sitting, but he’s on to everything. That’s helped me just sharpen up in my mind and it’s helped me a lot.”
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Arteta’s no-compromise approach to standards at Arsenal is well known, and it appears to be rubbing off on one of Arsenal’s brightest talents. As Nwaneri continues to mature, his performances at both club and international level have turned heads. He is now expected to play a central role for England’s U21s as they aim to defend their European Championship crown in Slovakia this summer.
Despite speculation over a potential senior call-up, the Arsenal teenager remains grounded but ambitious.
“Before each season I can see where I’m going to be at the end of it,” he said. “I’ve always had that ability to see and visualise where I want to be and put my mind towards it. I wasn’t really surprised, but I think now it’s just [a question of] what’s the next step and what I need to do to get to where I want to be.”