Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri has become the youngest debutant in the history of the English Premier League when he came on to the pitch in added time against Brentford on Sunday. At 15 years and 181 days, Nwaneri is the first player born in 2007 and the first under the age of 16 to ever play in the Premier League.

He surpassed the previous record held by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott (at 16 years and 30 days) to become the youngest in Premier League history. The record of Cesc Fabregas, who as 16 years and 177 days old, when he made his official Arsenal debut, has also been broken in the process.

Nwaneri didn’t have much to do as he came on to see out the remainder of the final few minutes but indulged in celebration as Arsenal secured a 3-0 victory over Brentford to reclaim their position at the top of the Premier League table.

At the post-match press conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was bombarded with questions about Nwaneri. When asked why he decided to involve the teenager, who only made his Under-18s debut in May, Arteta said, “It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy (and) really liked what I saw. I don’t know what it is. When I met him, when I look at him, I had that feeling.

“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. He had to come because we have injuries, especially the injury of Martin (Odegaard), and then I had that feeling that if the opportunity could come that I was going to do it.”

Having played four league matches at the U18 and U21 levels this season, Nwaneri has four goals and as many assists to his name. He has also represented his national side England at the U16 level and has also broken into the Arsenal U21 team in recent weeks. An attacking midfielder who likes to play across the line but favours the number 10 position, Nwaneri has impressed Mikel Arteta so far in training sessions.
On the pitch, first-half goals from William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus and another from Fabio Vieira four minutes after the emergence from the tunnel secured a comfortable victory for the Gunners at Gtech Community Stadium.