Ethan Nwaneri Makes Arsenal History, Surpassing Bukayo Saka and Cesc Fabregas
Ethan Nwaneri has etched his name in Arsenal history with his latest goal, becoming part of an exclusive club. The teenager scored the opening goal for Arsenal in their 1-1 draw against Brighton, marking his second Premier League goal for the club, just two months shy of his 18th birthday.
Nwaneri’s goal came after 16 minutes, as he found the net past goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, putting Arsenal ahead. This achievement makes him the first Gunners player to score twice in the Premier League before turning 18, surpassing both Cesc Fabregas and Bukayo Saka.
While Fabregas scored his first Premier League goal at 17, he was 18 by the time he scored again. Saka, on the other hand, didn’t find the net before his 18th birthday, and was 19 when he scored his next Premier League goal.
Nwaneri had previously scored his first league goal in November during Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. His recent goal also makes him the sixth player to score multiple Premier League goals before turning 18, joining the ranks of Wayne Rooney (7 goals), Michael Owen (5), Danny Cadamarteri (3), James Milner (3), and Federico Macheda (2).
The midfielder, who won’t turn 18 until March 21, could continue to add to his tally, having started consecutive games for Mikel Arteta’s side. Nwaneri is already the youngest player in Premier League history, having made his debut for Arsenal at just 15 years and 181 days old against Brentford in September 2022. Since then, he has made 20 senior appearances for the club, with 14 of those in the Premier League.
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