Arsenal may have already found next Ethan Nwaneri as wonderkid sends strong message
Arsenal return to UEFA Champions League football on Tuesday evening when they take on Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners started their league phase campaign with a 0-0 draw with Atalanta nearly two weeks ago.
PSG visit North London weaker than previous years following Kylian Mbappe's exit to Real Madrid in the summer. However, Luis Enrique's team is still littered with talent including Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves and the absent Ousmane Dembele.
Mikel Arteta's men go into the contest as favourites after their impressive start to the season. Arsenal have five of their opening eight games in all competitions but are seeking their first victory in Europe since November.
Unlike last season, the Gunners have a number of options in all positions this time after the summer business. Fortunately, for the first time in a while, they also have an academy prodigy that has made an impact.
Ethan Nwaneri is now a regular in Arteta's squad. After coming off the bench in the North London derby win over Tottenham, the 17-year-old scored his first senior goals against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup last week before helping them defeat Leicester City at the weekend.
He replaced Thomas Partey in the 85th minute with the score level, came close to scoring a spectacular winning goal before Wilfred Ndidi's own goal came. With the excitement of Nwaneri's potential growing, there are plenty of others within the academy itching to follow in his footsteps.
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As the first-team play in the Champions League, participating clubs all participate in the UEFA Youth League. Arsenal's Under-19s started the campaign off with a 4-1 loss to Atalanta last month but they were on the top of their game against PSG at Boreham Wood.
Max Porter's side defeated the young French side thanks to Andre Harriman-Annous' header. The 16-year-old was making his debut in the competition after scoring five goals in four Premier League U18 fixtures this season - including a hat-trick at Brighton at the weekend.
Annous' goal came after Max Dowman became the youngest ever player to score in the competition aged 14 years, eight months and 19 days in Italy in the previous fixture. Michal Rosiak, Ayden Heaven, Dan Casey and Osman Kamara have all featured in both games and are regulars in Jack Wilshere's Under-18s.
The win in the rain at Meadow Park will provide only encouragement for the club. Beating one of the better academies in Europe is another sign of positive things to come in the future.