Mikel Arteta praises irreplaceable Arsenal star as 'brave' Nwaneri makes history

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Ethan Nwaneri after the teenager became the club’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer.

The 17-year-old notched his first league goal, cementing his place in the club's history books in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium.

"He's brave," Arteta said. "You see the reaction of fans, and they were singing 'he's one of our own.' That’s a story in itself.

“I think we have to put brick by brick and make sure the cement doesn’t get dry. Hopefully, we can build a beautiful thing with him."

Arteta praised his squad for their unity and sharpness after returning from the November international break with a number of injury concerns.

"I think we started really well. The sense I was getting in the last 48 hours after the international break, the boys coming together and were all at it."

"It was good to see the impact of the substitutes. Everyone has to feel important. It was a good afternoon.”

While Nwaneri stole the headlines, Arteta also singled out captain Martin Odegaard for his influence on the team’s performance.

"It’s not a coincidence. The team flows in a different way when he is playing," Arteta said.

The match marked Arteta's 250th in charge of Arsenal across all competitions, leaving the Gunners in fourth place after 12 games played.