rapid extent of Ethan Nwaneri’s progress has meant he isn’t old enough to change in the Arsenal first team dressing room.
The talented 17-year-old has further enhanced his growing reputation with two remarkable performances last week.
Nwaneri celebrated his first Champions League start with a stunning goal in a 2-1 victory over Girona seven days ago. He followed that with another impressive display off the bench during Sunday’s 5-1 rout of Manchester City, sealing the match with a spectacular long-range strike.
Arsenal have always had high hopes for this player, who became the youngest to make a first-team appearance for the club at just 15 years old over two years ago.
While recognition from England, starting at the Under-21 level, is surely on the horizon, safeguarding rules mean that, unlike his fellow breakthrough star Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri still isn’t permitted to change in the dressing room on matchdays.
‘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,’ said Arteta.
‘I imagine for them it is special because at the moment they are still in different dressing rooms [at the training ground].
‘Ethan cannot be in our dressing room still, which is unbelievable. He needs to get dressed somewhere else, even on match day.
‘So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it is lucky. They are very lucky to have each other.’
Arteta has expressed his disappointment over Arsenal’s failure to secure a new striker, but he does not see it as a risk in their pursuit of Premier League success.
Following Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending injury during their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on January 12, the Gunners intensified their search for a forward.
Despite their efforts, they were unable to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, a move that seems unlikely even in the summer. Arsenal will continue their quest for trophies with Kai Havertz as their only recognized senior striker.
An exasperated Arteta mentioned that he will need to be ‘very flexible’ with his attacking strategies, assigning Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Raheem Sterling, and even Nwaneri to lead the line if Havertz is unavailable.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s second leg of their semi-final Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Wednesday, Arteta said: ‘We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. And we haven’t achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense.
‘We are very aware that we only want to bring a certain kind of player in and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.
‘After you don’t achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We’ll know probably at the end of the season.
‘But we’re going to have to be very flexible with the front line. Leo can play in that position. Raheem has played in that position. Ethan, I think, can play in that position. Martinelli can play there, too. At some point, we’re going to have to try something different.’
Havertz, 25, has encountered criticism this season and missed a clear chance during Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of Manchester City on Sunday.
Nevertheless, the ex-Chelsea player did manage to find the back of the net in the emphatic win, keeping Arsenal’s title hopes alive. He has now scored 15 goals in 33 appearances this term.
Of Arsenal’s failed striker pursuit, Arteta added: ‘It’s not a gamble, it’s reality and we have to face the reality. I am not worried. Now I focus on the numbers that we have, how to maximise them, how to make the best out of them.
‘With all the problems that we have already had, it’s remarkable what the team has done (this season) so I have full faith in them.’
Arsenal trail Newcastle 2-0 as they prepare for Wednesday’s match, following a disheartening loss in the first leg at the Emirates two weeks ago.
However, Arteta remains optimistic that their impressive win against City will give them the momentum needed to reach the final on March 16.
‘The next stop is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is and you can feel it,” said Arteta.
‘The momentum is with us and we have a break (after the game against Newcastle) so now is the the moment to go full gas.
‘We’re excited, willing, hungry and enthusiastic because we are very close to playing a final and hopefully we can achieve that tomorrow.’
