Ethan Nwaneri is only 18 years old, but he had to wait a long time to get a moment like this. Once one of Arsenal's prominent young faces last season, his chances of being in the first team have become limited due to many factors.
In that context, the opening goal in the 2-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup was a timely reminder of Nwaneri's talent. The goal was meticulously executed, originating from Mikel Merino's excellent pass to Myles Lewis-Skelly, before the player crossed for Nwaneri to finish neatly.
In the 76th minute, substitute Bukayo Saka sealed a 2-0 victory for Arsenal. The "Gunners" have qualified for the quarter-finals and will host Crystal Palace at home.
It is not easy for a young player like Nwaneri to return after making a strong impression. Last season, he was given a big chance when Saka suffered a hamstring injury, and started 8 out of 11 matches from February to April. This goal could be a turning point, opening a new journey for Arsenal's most anticipated young talent at the moment.
Nwaneri has shown impressive form, helping him be rewarded by Arsenal with a new contract for 5 years. However, the appearance of new players has limited his playing opportunities. The Gunners recruited Noni Madueke as a reserve for Saka, while Eberechi Eze was brought in to increase creativity in the attacking midfield position.
Even in the match against Brighton, the second time Nwaneri started this season, attention was somewhat shared with another face from the Hale End academy - Max Dowman. The 15-year-old became the youngest player to ever play for Arsenal (15 years and 302 days) and made a strong impression in the first half. Dowman continuously made Brighton's defense confused with his technical and fast play.
However, Nwaneri still knows how to make his mark. His beautiful left-footed goal not only opened the scoring for Arsenal, but also reminded the image of a talent who once made fans expect a lot. This was also Nwaneri's first goal since April, proving that his potential is still intact.
"He's really good. He played against Atletico Madrid recently and will have many more chances. The important thing is that Nwaneri knows how to make the most of every minute on the pitch. I like his spirit - not afraid to make mistakes, dare to challenge myself, and finally get rewarded with a great goal" - Mikel Arteta commented.
That is what Arteta expected from nights like this, when the substitutes knew how to take advantage of the opportunity to maintain the winning streak for the team. Arsenal have extended their winning streak to 8 matches in all competitions, while keeping a clean sheet in 11 of their last 14 matches.
