Salah & Szoboszlai run rings around City in champion display

Culture Axis: New Preds, Messi answers 'Stoke' question & more

The Curious Case of Marcelo

Magical Modric inspires Madrid on Mbappe off-day

KDB looks done! Captain leads City flops in Liverpool loss

Editors' Picks

INEOS to distance Man Utd from past as Ferguson blamed for struggles

Rashford's impact at Villa hailed by Asensio & Tielemans

‘Not a foul!’ – Officials bemuse bloodied Barca star Yamal

Young quotes Mourinho as he reacts to overturned penalty decision

Man City, Barca & football's most dramatic falls from grace

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Nwaneri enjoying breakthrough season</li><li>Has helped cover for Bukayo Saka's absence</li><li>Teenager still barred from entering dressing room</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'Unbelievable!' - Mikel Arteta reveals Ethan Nwaneri is barred from Arsenal dressing room despite playing prominent first-team role

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Arsenal

<p>Nwaneri has enjoyed an impressive start to his senior career, seamlessly stepping into the Arsenal team and providing a much-needed <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-player-ratings-girona-champions-league-ethan-nwaneri-neto/blt3b6bd97dd21c0f6b" target="_blank">solution to Arteta's right-flank issues</a>. The talented 17-year-old has already made his full Premier League and Champions League debuts, while also delivering standout performances in the Carabao Cup. His goal-scoring ability has been particularly eye-catching, as he has found the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/ethan-nwaneri-makes-arsenal-history-breaking-cesc-fabregas-record-gunners-vs-brighton/bltd987595f0423ed4e" target="_blank">net across all three competitions, </a>proving his capability at the highest level.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Another academy graduate, Myles Lewis-Skelly, has also broken into the first team this season, and netted his first Arsenal goal in a 5-1 win over Manchester City. Arteta believes the strong friendship between Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly has helped both youngsters adjust to life at the top level.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Arteta emphasized that having a close friend in the squad is beneficial, especially given Nwaneri still can't enter the dressing room situation due to safeguarding regulations.</p><p>"Ethan cannot be in our dressing room still, which is unbelievable. He needs to get dressed somewhere else, even on match day," the manager told reporters.</p><p>“So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it is lucky. They are very lucky to have each other."</p><p>Due to FA safeguarding regulations, players under the age of 18 are not allowed in the senior dressing room. As a result, Nwaneri must get changed separately before joining his team-mates for final preparations before kick-off.</p>

WHAT ARTETA SAID

<p>Nwaneri underlined his growing reputation with an outstanding display against Girona in the Champions League, where he was named Man of the Match after scoring a stunning goal from outside the box. The teenager followed that up with another goal against Manchester City on Sunday, sealing Arsenal’s thumping victory at the Emirates in the Premier League.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>With Bukayo Saka absent and Arsenal chasing the Premier League title, Nwaneri’s emergence has come at a crucial time, providing Arteta with a valuable extra attacking option. The teenager will be eager to continue his impressive form when Arsenal face Newcastle United in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie. The Gunners trail by two goals from the first leg but will take confidence from Newcastle’s poor recent home form, with the Magpies losing their last two matches.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR NWANERI?

'Unbelievable!' - Mikel Arteta reveals Ethan Nwaneri is barred from Arsenal dressing room despite playing prominent first-team role | Goal.com

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Ethan Nwaneri does not have access to the Arsenal dressing room despite playing a prominent first-team role.

Next Match