Arteta calls for ‘patience’ from Arsenal fans over Nwaneri game time

Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal would have to be patient with Ethan Nwaneri after the 17-year-old became the second-youngest Premier League goalscorer in the club’s history.

Nwaneri came off the bench to wrap up a 3-0 win for Arsenal at home to Nottingham Forest after goals from Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey, ending a three-match winless run for the Gunners.

The teenager’s strike was his fourth of the season, having scored three times in the Carabao Cup and there had been disappointment from some fans that Nwaneri had not seen more action in the absence of Martin Odegaard.

However, Arteta compared Nwaneri’s development to ‘building’, claiming that the midfielder understands the way his playing time is being handled and that his teammates trust him, which is ‘the most important thing’.

“I am responsible to build a career for him,” Arteta said. “You have to do that brick by brick. Today he put another brick. Now we have to put another cement, be patient and make sure it doesn’t get dry so we can put another one and that will stick.

“He’s very clever and brave. You see the reaction of fans and they were singing ‘he’s one of our own’. I think we have to put brick by brick and make sure the cement doesn’t get dry. Hopefully, we can build a beautiful thing with him.”

Nwaneri looking to take next step after limited action

Nwaneri’s creative play on the ball led to calls for him to deputise for Odegaard, who has marked his return to action after two months out with two assists in two games.

Despite coming off the bench six times in the Premier League this season, Nwaneri has played just 60 minutes in those appearances, leading to frustration from some supporters after his dazzling displays in the Carabao Cup.

Nearly half of Nwaneri’s league minutes came against Newcastle the game after his man-of-the-match display against Preston in the cup, however the youngster failed to impose himself in the loss to the Magpies.

Nwaneri played just eight minutes in the following match and failed to see the pitch in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea, but his goal in just eight minutes of action against Forest could convince Arteta to ‘lay another brick’ by giving him more game time in the Champions League fixture against Sporting next week.