Ethan Nwaneri sends clear message to Mikel Arteta after first Premier League goal
Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Premier League goal in Arsenal’s win against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium and has now spoken out on his debut strike amid Mikel Arteta praise
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorEthan Nwaneri has issued a simple demand to Mikel Arteta after his first Premier League goal and stated he’s ready for more chances.
The Arsenal starlet has enjoyed an outstanding breakout season this term. He has already made nine appearances in all competitions and scored four goals.
One of those strikes came at the weekend in the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest. It was Nwaneri’s first ever Premier League goal and saw him become the second youngest goalscorer for the club in the division behind Cesc Fabregas.
And speaking after his strike, Nwaneri expressed his pride and anxiety for more chances in the near future. Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, he said: "I'm incredibly proud and I'm happy. I'm excited, but yeah, I'm just ready for more. Just keep pushing basically."
"I know Raheem is a good player and can find players in the box, so I wasn't shocked when he found me. Then, you know, it was just instinct to put it in the bottom corner. I was just grateful for him. He's assisted me again this season, so I'm happy.
Asked how he feels to now be rubbing shoulders with Fabregas, he added: "It makes me feel very proud. Such a great name that I'm just behind so, it's a good achievement and I'm happy."
Arteta has already spoken out on Nwaneri’s abilities. And while he has remained full of praise, he has urged Arsenal fans to not put too much pressure on the youngster.
Speaking in his press conference after beating Forest, the Gunners boss said: “I understand that, I am responsible for him, and you have to do that brick by brick. Today he put in another brick, now we have to put the cement, make sure that it doesn’t get dry, so that he can put in another one and another one and that one is going to stick.
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“Then we put one more layer, we want to put five in a row. Believe me, it won’t work and we have to manage that with his expectations and his load as well, which is really important."
Asked how he can keep expectations in check, Arteta replied: "Something I cannot do myself, I cannot manage expectations. I will try to educate him, raise him, and give him the pathway that we believe is the best.
“His family, his agent, his friends, they will be very important as well. Don’t listen too much to the noise, focus on what he does which is to play football and he loves every minute of it and good things will happen to him for sure.”
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