Ethan Nwaneri generation: Teen stars on cusp of breakthroughs after Arsenal record breaker

Arsenal have long been praised for giving youth a chance and have often reaped the benefits of turning to their academy in times of need.

Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe can now both consider themselves first-team regulars, with the former arguably the most important player in the squad. Their newest Hale-End academy graduate however is significantly younger than the aforementioned duo were when they made their first-team debuts.

Ethan Nwaneri made history when he came off the bench in the last knockings of Arsenal’s 3-0 win away at Brentford as he set a new record for the youngest player to feature in a Premier League match at just 15 years and 181 days.

An extraordinary feat, Nwaneri is significantly younger than the last player to boast that record – Liverpool’s Harvey Elliot, who was 16 years and 30 days when he appeared for Fulham. Nwaneri is now the only player under the age of 16 to star in a Premier League fixture.

While the attacking midfielder is certainly an exceptional talent, there is a whole host of young teenage talent just waiting to burst onto the scene for a number of clubs across the continent.

Mirror Football has taken a look at some of the players in question.

Matai Akinmboni

Handed his debut in senior football by Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, the teenager wrote his name into the Major League Soccer history books when he was named in the starting XI for a recent 0-0 draw against Real Salt Lake.

Akinmboni is now the third youngest-player to ever to feature in an MLS game at 15 years and 328 days, behind former fellow DC United star Freddy Adu and current Bayern Munich sensation Alphonso Davies.

“He’s 15 and I have to protect him,” Rooney explained after Akinmboni’s debut. “But I just felt he was ready to come in and play. Is he going to play every game? Of course not. He’s still a very young boy.

“I got everything I wanted from the 45 minutes that he played tonight that I wanted to see. I’ll keep trying to develop him as a player and hopefully be seeing more of him in this season and for years to come.”

Lamine Yamal

To be asked to train with any senior side at just 15 is incredible, when the side in question is Barcelona it is undeniably all the more impressive.

That is the reality for Yamal, who has caught manager Xavi’s eye with his technical prowess after being plucked from La Masia to come and train with Barcelona’s plethora of first-team stars.

Mundo Deportivo report that the Barcelona boss is ‘in love’ with Yamal’s tendency to play progressive, intelligent football and as a result his name is already being mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Ansu Fati and Pedri.

Born in 2007, Yamal is not yet permitted to pen his first professional contract as he is still only 15. There is reportedly a number of clubs circling aiming to pry him away from Catalonia, but Barcelona are prepared to go to great lengths to keep Yamal at the Camp Nou.

Christopher Atherton

After coming on Northern Irish outfit Glenavon during their League cup clash with Dollingstown, Atherton wrote his name into the history books as the youngest player in British senior football.

Atherton was just 13 years and 329 days when he made his professional bow and even registered an assist with his first touch of the ball as his side ran out 6-0 winners.

Glenavon’s twitter account wrote: “At 13 years and 329 days old, he became the youngest player in the UK to play in a first-class match. Congratulations Christo!

“Also, not to mention, his first touch of the ball tonight was an assist! What an amazing debut!!”

It has been reported that Atherton has caught the eye of some Scottish Premier League sides, including Dundee United.

Ben Doak

Signed by Liverpool from Scottish giants Celtic in the summer, Doak has managed to already spark excitement with his performances for the Reds academy sides this season.

The 16-year-old had already made his first-team bow for the Bhoys at the tail-end of last term but his reluctance to extend his stay at Parkhead is likely to have been inspired by interest from Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Scotland Under-17 coach Brian McLaughlin waxed lyrical over the versatile Doak to the Liverpool Echo, claiming: “Wherever he is on the pitch he’s different, he’s just different.

“He wants to take players on, he wants to be really, really positive and as long as he keeps that character and reminds himself of what his major strengths are, we’ll try to encourage him.

“He’s a different type of player to anybody who has come through recently, his athleticism alone is different.”

Maldini Kacurri

A teammate of Nwaneri’s at youth level, Arsenal youngster Kancurri has been thrust into the spotlight with his impressive displays that were showcased on the recent ‘Inside Hale-End’ docu-series focused on the Gunners’ academy.

Aggressive in the tackle, the defender has been touted as another future first-team star due to his cool head and composure on the ball – something first-team boss Mikel Arteta clearly values by looking at his current options in that position.

The centre-back initially trialled for a youth contract in North London, but now looks on course to work his way up the ranks at the club just five months after he joined having been released by fellow Premier League outfit Fulham.

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