Updated at 14.57
ETHAN NWANERI made Premier League history on Sunday as the Arsenal midfielder became the youngest ever player in the English top flight at 15 years and 181 days.
Nwaneri came off the bench late on as the Gunners returned to the top of the table with a 3-0 win at Brentford.
He broke the record previously held by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott when he appeared for Fulham aged 16 years and 30 days. Nwaneri also set a new landmark for the youngest Arsenal player in any competition that was held by Cesc Fabregas.
Nwaneri had been expected to spend the season with Arsenal U18s but he was quickly promoted to the U21s following his impressive performances.
Injuries to captain Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko had left Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta short of midfield options.
“We are pretty short and opportunities come when issues arise,” said Arteta. “We have the opportunities to bring young players on.”
Northern Irish schoolboy Christopher Atherton became the youngest senior footballer ever in the United Kingdom earlier this week when he appeared for Glenavon aged 13 years and 329 days.
Too young for an adults team sport.
@OConnelj: there’s a rush to create records of ‘youngest player’ it seems. Needless.
@Paddy: probably a bit of that but a great experience for the kid all the same.
@OConnelj: and what about his Junior Cert?!!
@Paddy: it’s to try and convince him to sign professional contract. He’s one of the most sought after talents in English football. Arsenal want to show him a route to first team.
@OConnelj: agreed, if he is considered to young to sign a professional contract, he shouldn’t be near the senior squad. Curious to what the insurance aspect would be if he received a career threatening injury.
@OConnelj: if you’re good enough you’re old enough
If he’s good enough he’s old enough, well done young man.
@Gary Egan: surely there are labour laws though he has to go through, its not a matter of being good enough, it’s about long term protection
@Gary Egan: when I lived in the states I played for a local team. All around my age at the time, 20s. One weekend the coach decided to bring his son on as a sub, he was 13. About 5 mins in he went into a challenge and shattered his leg. His femur, supposedly the strongest bone in the body was in bits. 15 yo bodies are still growing and it’s taking a huge risk to play him alongside adults. Fair play to the lad, great experience, but there are very few contact sports that would allow that.
@Garreth mc mahon: who are you? His keeper? You can work at 14 with parental permission anyway. It might be 15. Anyway, as long as he has parental consent it’s nothing to do with you.
A positive sports news story and the usual few comments taking the good out of it. Unbelievable Jeff.
@Gavin Mckenna: Go work in a hospital and the real world,this kid should not be allowed play adults football,end of ,look at the science and grow up
@Paul Owens: who are you? He’s working. Not your call.
@Rafa Condron: Say we know a little bit more about these things than fellas who kick a ball around grass.As I said what do u expect it’s soccer
As one wag on radio said: “He’s so young, he was born during the queue to see the Queen lying in state.”
@John Elliott: Have you considered literacy classes?
@John Elliott: well said.
Obviously he came on in added time.,great experience for the lad, what a boost for him , I know if it was me Id be working extra hard to make sure I get that chance again !!
@Stephen Lambkin Moroney: Spot on. He was obviously being rewarded (and motivated) with a tiny taste of what he can experience if he continues to progress.
Actually nearly a form of abuse to be honest their bones are effectively only cartilage like and not fully developed into bone at that age,,still it’s football what do u expect.
@Paul Owens: idiotic comment
@Rafa Condron: Say u would know one alright!
So ban trans women from women’s sports but kids can play will fully grown men. Sure…
@Ailbhe: the equivalent comparison would be an adult man playing boy’s football
@Ailbhe: reaching
@Ailbhe: sorry but that makes no sense.
@Ailbhe: yes males and females are different
@The Logic: Are you saying ladies = kids when it comes to football?
@Ailbhe: I think it is fair to ban the physically big athletes if they have the advantage of going through male puberty.
We are talking about a very tiny percentage of Athletes
@JusticeForJoe: no, just pointing out Ailbhe had her comparison the wrong way around
@Ailbhe: he’s a teenager. Teenagers have always played professional football if they’re good enough. Your agenda has no place here.
@Ailbhe: well said. The weight and strength advantage of adult men versus a child is an exact comparison to the excuses used by those who want to ban trans players.
@Ailbhe: exactly.
@Ailbhe:
15 year olds are taking drugs, boozing and having sex regularly. If they can do all that they can play a soccer match.
Well done young man. If he is good enough to play let him play.
If this lad is 15 that he wasn’t alive the last time Arsenal won the league and he was born after their move to the Emirates. Highbury wasn’t in his lifetime, that’s kind of mind blowing
@Jake Kelly: Mind…… Blown
Way to young for the money he will earn. Hopefully he has a good team (no pun intended) around him.
@✨Barbara Christopher: youth team players would be on a relatively very low wage per week. Probably less than £1000.
@✨Barbara Christopher: Was there a pun in there?
That kind of experience he might be a great England player one day.