Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged premier league referees to protect Ethan Nwaneri from tackles following his breakthrough this season.
Nwaneri has been a revelation for the Gunners, showcasing his skills and potential in the first team. The 17-year-old has been impressive for the Gunners, scoring three goals in six games across all competitions.
Following his impressive performance, the youngster has been on the receiving end of several rough and tough tackles from opponents, a treatment Arteta thinks should be avoided to ensure he develops.
Speaking to the press, Arteta said the referees should protect the youngsters from the tackles. He said; “I think the biggest thing is to push him, and then when he is being pushed, you always grab him right behind to make sure that he’s always stable and protected. But with this talent, you have to push him. The protection is necessary to keep an eye on him and be at the right distance, but he needs to see that he can fly and don’t clip any wings.”
Arteta praised Nwaneri’s skill and maturity, noting that he’s one of the brightest talents among his peers in the Premier League.
“It is rare to see a talent like this at 17 years old, that’s true. But when we gave him his debut in the Premier League, there was a lot of talk about it but we didn’t do it because he was a gift, we did it because we knew the pathway that we wanted to build with him and we wanted to send him a really strong sign about how much we trust him and how much we wanted him to stay with us. We are delighted to have him.”
Despite the mounting expectations around Nwaneri, Arteta emphasized that the midfielder’s future success depends largely on his work ethic and commitment.
“I can talk about how good he is right now. At 17 years old, to be in a position like he is in at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, I think sums up really well the level that he has,” he stated.
“What is going to happen in the future is mainly is going to depend on him and how much he wants it. At the moment he wants it a lot and he’s surrounded by the right people and then you will need a crystal ball to see where he is going to be in a year, two years, three years. My prediction is going to be very positive.”
Arsenal will face Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, November 2.
