Arteta reacts to record-breaking Golden Eaglets-eligible midfielder making Arsenal debut

Arsenal first team manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he was forced to include Golden Eaglets-eligible attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri in the matchday 20 to face Brentford due to injuries suffered in the squad. 

The Spanish football tactician could not call upon his captain Martin Odegaard as well as Oleksandr Zinchenko and Emile Smith Rowe, who are capable of playing as midfielders.

A bit of history was made when Nwaneri replaced Fábio Vieira in the 90th minute as he became the youngest-ever player to feature in the top flight of English football and Premier League, aged 15 years and 181 days.

Arteta has been getting feedback from Per Mertesacker on the progress of Nwaneri and also assessed the Anglo-Nigerian in training before the clash against Brentford. 

In quotes relayed by Football. London, Arteta said at the post-match press conference : "It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy (and) really liked what I saw. Per Mertesacker and the academy staff are giving me really good information, Edu as well.

"I met him, he’s trained a couple of times with us. Yesterday he had to come because we have injuries, especially the injury of Martin (Odegaard), and then I had that feeling from yesterday that if the opportunity could come that I was going to do it and I just done it."

On his message to Nwaneri before the attacking midfielder entered the fray for his senior debut, the former Arsenal captain said : "Those things it is better not to tell them. Just throw him there and see what happens."

Nwaneri has played non-binding games for England U16 and U17 national teams and is eligible to represent Nigeria through his father.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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