Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom might have expected moments of Premier League class in Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash with Arsenal, but even he couldn’t have foreseen the standout contribution from Arsenal’s 17-year-old prodigy, Ethan Nwaneri.
Despite Mikel Arteta fielding seasoned internationals like Raheem Sterling, Jorginho, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, William Saliba, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli—and bringing in-form Kai Havertz off the bench—the highlight of the Gunners’ 3-0 win came courtesy of Nwaneri.
The teenage midfielder, who recently scored his first senior goal against Bolton Wanderers in the previous round, once again impressed, drawing comparisons with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard for his vision and finesse. Nwaneri’s goal at Deepdale provided a glimpse of the remarkable potential that Arsenal recognised when he made history as the youngest-ever Premier League debutant two years ago.
Nwaneri’s moment arrived in the 33rd minute after he misfired a close-range effort directly into Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman’s arms. Undeterred, Nwaneri collected the ball outside Preston’s penalty area, shifted it onto his favoured left foot, and, with barely a yard of space, curled a stunning strike into the top corner, leaving Woodman rooted.
However, he was frustrated that Preston didn’t perform to their potential in the first half, urging his players at halftime to show more bravery and control in possession. “I thought we did that second half.”
Heckingbottom expected a challenging match against Arteta’s squad, especially upon seeing Arsenal’s starting lineup: “Having seen the team sheet, it reinforced that, so I knew what was coming.”
While Arsenal’s experienced players delivered the expected quality, it was Nwaneri’s dazzling performance that stole the spotlight, hinting at a bright future for Arsenal’s next generation.
