Arsenal’s rising star Ethan Nwaneri is on the brink of making Premier League history once again as Mikel Arteta’s men prepare to face Chelsea in a high-stakes London derby at the Emirates Stadium.
At just 17, Nwaneri already holds the record for the youngest player to feature in the Premier League after his historic debut against Brentford in September 2022. Since then, he has flourished under Arteta, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in 28 appearances this season.
Despite missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, Nwaneri has been called up to the Under-21s ahead of March’s fixtures. Rested during Arsenal’s 2-2 Champions League draw with PSV Eindhoven, the young winger is set to return to the starting XI for Sunday’s clash against Chelsea.
If Nwaneri finds the net against the Blues, he will become the youngest player ever to score in a Premier League London derby. Currently, no player under 18 has achieved this feat, and with his 18th birthday approaching next Friday, this match presents his final opportunity to make history.
Moreover, Nwaneri would join Brighton’s James Milner in an exclusive club. Milner, who scored against Chelsea for Leeds United at 16 years and 358 days in 2002, is the only player to have netted against the Blues before turning 18.
While Nwaneri awaits his senior England debut, his Arsenal teammate Myles Lewis-Skelly has received a surprise call-up to Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Arteta expressed pride in Lewis-Skelly’s achievement, highlighting the rapid progress the youngster has made in just a few months. The Arsenal boss believes his rise serves as inspiration for other young talents hoping to break into the senior setup.
With Nwaneri’s potential milestone on the horizon and Arsenal chasing vital points in the title race, Sunday’s showdown against Chelsea promises to be one to remember.