The Arsenal prodigy reveals the help and support he gets from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka
Arsenal talent Ethan Nwaneri has named Martin Odegaard and Bukaya Saka as the two senior players who have most helped him establish himself in the Gunners’ first team this season.
Nwaneri made history in September 2022 when he made his own senior debut at only 15 years and 181 daysbecoming Arsenal’s youngest player ever, as well as the youngest English Premier League player.
He was so young that Nwaneri only signed his first professional contract in March this year, but he has now become a regular in Mikel Arteta’s first team. So far in the 2024/25 season. made 16 appearances for the 17-year-old – including three starts and four goals.
He asked Arsenal.com which first-team stars have helped ease the transition to senior football, Nwaneri said, “there are a lot” but went on to elaborate on just two.
“Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were great for me, and not just me, but all the young players,” he explained.
“They help us with everything, and someone like Bukay has already been through that journey. That’s very important – he knows what we’re going through, he can help me, offer me insight into what he can help me with. He’s so good to talk to because he is cool and humble, but I also try to observe him as much as I can and learn that way.
“Martin too, he played at 15 too, so to have that experience with me in the dressing room is great.”
Saka joined Arsenal when he was seven and made his first-team debut at the end of 2018, a few weeks after turning 17. The winger was a regular until the age of 18 and has already made 250 appearances. Odegaard was even more of a teenage prodigy, training with Stromsgodset’s first team in Norway from the age of 13 and making his debut at 15. A month after turning 16, joined Real Madridafter he had all the leading clubs across Europe hot on his heels in a very public pursuit of a transfer.
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