Manager Mikel Arteta says Ethan Nwaneri can “dictate how fast” he becomes a first-team regular after he starred in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup win at Championship side Preston North End.
The 17-year-old midfielder curled in a superb first-half effort after Gabriel Jesus’ first goal since January had set Arsenal on their way.
Substitute Kai Havertz rounded off the scoring after the break for the Gunners, who will face Crystal Palace at home in the quarter-finals in the week commencing 16 December.
Academy product Nwaneri, who registered his first senior goals in the 5-1 win over Bolton in the previous round of the competition, also hit the crossbar on Wednesday and was serenaded by the visiting fans after being substituted late on.
“He’s a big talent, he’s got the right attitude and he’s got the right players and context around him,” said Arteta.
“We need to make sure that we build brick by brick in the right tempo, in the right order, but we have some player there.”
Nwaneri became the youngest player to feature in the Premier League in September 2022, when he came on against Brentford at the age of 15 years and 181 days.
Having already made four substitute appearances in the league this season, performances like the one Nwaneri delivered at Deepdale suggest it is only a matter of time before before he is given a much larger role.
“He’s going to really dictate how fast that’s going to go, but I’m really happy with him,” Arteta added.
“There’s so much personality there. He wants to impose himself, he wants every ball, he wants to make things happen. He’s very respectful, his work ethic is tremendous and he loves what he does, you can tell that. I think he is showing every day what he is capable of.
“You see his team-mates, they are giving him the ball all the time, that’s a great sign. So we have some player there.”
Preston toil as Arsenal look to the future
Preston came through a marathon penalty shootout against Fulham to reach the fourth round but rarely looked like causing an upset against Arsenal, who last won this competition in 1993.
While Paul Heckingbottom’s side showed admirable determination to close down and contain their opponents, their own inability to retain possession proved costly, particularly before the break.
And by the time Jeppe Okkels and Emil Riis went close to scoring for the hosts they were already 3-0 down against a visiting team in cruise control.
Despite making eight changes to his starting XI, Arteta’s side were still a class above Preston and on another evening their margin of victory could have been even greater.
The only surprise was that Arteta chose to give a run out to the likes of Havertz and Bukayo Saka after the break, in a tournament that is unlikely to be at the top of his priorities.
However, alongside the performance of the excellent Nwaneri, the Spaniard will also have been delighted to take a look into the future, with two 18-year-olds – goalkeeper Tommy Setford and defender Ayden Heaven – handed debuts.
