Ethan Nwaneri set a record as an open player playing in the Premier League. Nwaneri played by Arsenal in match week 7 of the Premier League 2022/2023, against Brentford.
Nwaneri, who is 15 years 181 days old, came on at 90+2 minutes. Previously, the record was held by Liverpool's Harvey Elliot at the age of 16 years and 30 days. At that time, he was still playing for Fulham in 2019.
Arsenal is known as a team that often orbits young players. The Gunners quite often promote their young talents, both from the academy and bought from other teams, to the main squad.
Apart from Ethan Nwaneri, here are the four youngest players to debut at Arsenal. So, who are they?
Paul Vaessen
The first name came from Paul Vaessen who at that time was considered one of the talented young talents owned by England. Vaessen joined Arsenal in 1977.
Vaessen to make his debut with the Gunners at a very young age. He appeared in the match against Lokomotive Leipzig in the Europa League stage on 27 September 1978, when he was still 16 years old.
After that, Vaessen made his Premier League debut against Chelsea on May 14, 1979. In July of the same year, Vaessen finally became a professional player at Arsenal.
Unfortunately, the career journey of Arsenal's winner against Juventus in the 1980 Cup Winners' Cup semifinal ended sadly.
In his first season, he was stunning. However, in the following seasons he was prone to injury. Vaessen then retired and had died by suicide.
Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Pennant was brought in by the Gunners from Notts County at the age of 15, for a fee of 2 million pounds. That fee became a record for an academy player.
Pennant made his Arsenal debut at the age of 16 and became their youngest player at the time. But after scoring a hat-trick on his league debut, the winger's mentality did not match his talent.
Pennant has only played 12 times in the Premier League. He then moved to Birmingham City, initially on loan in the 2004–05 season, and his career ended at Billericay Town F.C (a seventh division club).
Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere is one of the Arsenal academy graduates who has qualified qualities. He was even predicted to be a big star at the Emirates Stadium.
The player was promoted to the first team in 2008. The midfielder played his first game at the age of 16 years, 8 months and 12 days. Wilshere came on as a substitute during Arsenal's game against Blackburn Rovers on 13 September 2008.
Unfortunately, injury problems made him fail to show his best potential while defending Arsenal. As a result, he was released for free to West Ham United in 2018. Now, Wilshere has hung up his boots and switched professions to coach Arsenal U-18.
Cesc Fabregas
Before Nwaneri, Cesc Fabregas became the youngest player to debut for Arsenal in the 21st century. Fabregas is not a player who came from the Arsenal academy.
The Spaniard was signed by the Gunners from Barcelona's academy in September 2003. Although he is still very young, the 35-year-old midfielder has already earned the trust of Arsene Wenger to play in the first team.
In the English League Cup competition, Fabregas made his Arsenal debut on October 28, 2003. At that time he played as a starter for the Gunners against Rotherham United. The player was then replaced by Quincy Owusu-Abeyie towards the end of the match. Fabregas was 16 years, 5 months and 24 days old at that time.