ARSENAL youngster Ethan Nwaneri – who wasn’t even born when the Emirates Stadium was opened – came off the bench today to face Brentford.
He became the youngest player in Premier League history at 15 years and 181 days when he joined the action in injury time.
The teenager was promoted to first team training this week having made his U21’s debut at the beginning of September.
And the attacking midfielder quickly earned a spot in Mikel Arteta’s squad with the likes of Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith-Rowe unavailable due to injury.
Nwaneri, who was born in March 2007, becomes the youngest player ever to make a Premier League appearance.
The record was previously held by Liverpool teenager Harvey Elliott who was 16yrs and 30days when he came on for Fulham.
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He also becomes the youngest first-team player in Arsenal’s history.
The attacking midfielder has recorded four goals and assists in four league games between the U18’s and U21’s this campaign.
He caught the eyes of Arsenal fans when he scored on his U18’s debut last year at the age of just 14, with many hoping that he would go on to be the next big thing.
And he has now followed in the footsteps of Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka in making his first team debut after impressing club coaches.
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But, the teen is significantly younger than both of Arsenal’s golden boys were when they made their respective senior breakthroughs.
Nwaneri was born almost a year AFTER the Gunners faced Barcelona in their first and only Champions League final in 2006.
Club legends Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Cesc Fabregas all featured in that game as well as Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Xavi.
Arsene Wenger’s side went on to lose the clash 2-1 following two late Barcelona goals.
Arsenal currently face an injury crisis with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mohamed Elneny, Odegaard and Smith-Rowe all unavailable due to injury.
New boy Fabio Vieira makes his full debut today against Brentford with Marquinhos – who scored his first goal for the club last week – named on the bench alongside 17-year old Lino Sousa.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
