Paul Merson has a special message for Arsenal wonderkid following impressive full debut

Paul Merson has showered praise on the talented player Ethan Nwaneri, describing him as a 'special player'. However, Merson also advised the young Arsenal wonderkid to exercise patience as he continues to develop his skills.

Nwaneri has long been tipped for stardom after he became the youngest player in Premier League history back in 2022, making his Gunners debut aged just 15 years and 181 days.

Just over two years later, the attacking midfielder made his first senior start in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

Nwaneri bagged himself a brace against the League One side, impressing alongside the likes of Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Declan Rice.

With Martin Odegaard currently sidelined with injury, many think Mikel Arteta should and will turn to the 17-year-old as Arsenal look to win the Premier League title.

Merson is in no doubt that Nwaneri is a fantastic talent and praised Arsenal for the way they have handled his development, though believes they need to be careful not to rush him into regular first-team action.

‘That’s a good goal, a clever goal, he gets into the six yard box. He’s got the confidence to have a shot,’ Merson told while discussing Nwaneri’s goals against Bolton.

Sterling ⏩ Nwaneri

A first Arsenal goal for Ethan Nwaneri 👏 pic.twitter.com/3IKlUWAv0y

‘He’s a good player. The problem is it’s so, so hard to go and play for Arsenal on a consistent basis, especially nowadays when they can go and get anybody from around the world.

‘For this kid to be playing and these kids to get given an opportunity, fair play to Arsenal for giving them the opportunity.

‘But at the same time, they’re coming into a good football team. They’re coming in and playing with good players that are full of confidence, like Declan Rice and that helps.

Ethan Nwaneri makes the most of a poor bit of play from Bolton and gets his second goal! ✨ pic.twitter.com/5lZlHSlNhC

‘Sometimes you find that kids get thrown in when the team’s struggling, the players are struggling, then it’s hard for them because they think, “I’ve got to rely on the experienced players”, and the experienced players are not playing well so they look after themselves.

‘It’s clever the way Arsenal are doing it. They’re putting these kids in just at the right time when the team are flying, players around them are full of confidence.

‘You’ve still got to get on that pitch in front of 60,000 and perform but fair play to Arsenal and fair play to him. You hear the whispers: the kid’s a special player, a special player.

‘He’s just got to be given the chance on a consistent basis, but he needs to be patient because he is at one of the best clubs in the world, in my opinion.’

Arteta was also full of praise for Nwaneri in his post-Bolton press conference and suggested that the teenager was not far away from his first Premier League start.

His first chance to hand him his full top-flight debut will be on Saturday when Arsenal host Leicester at the Emirates.

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