Why Arsenal fans may have to wait years to see Ethan Nwaneri regularly as Mikel Arteta hatches Bukayo Saka-style plan

IT IS the bulk, not the brains, that inactive has Mikel Arteta hesitant erstwhile it comes to Ethan Nwaneri.

Arsenal academy merchandise Nwaneri, 17, is successful the Premier League's past books arsenic the competition's youngest ever subordinate - coming connected arsenic a 15-year-old sub astatine Brentford successful September 2022.

And this play has provided glimpses of the young midfielder’s seemingly limitless potential.

Three Carabao Cup goals successful his archetypal 2 Arsenal starts person been followed by notable substitute appearances distant astatine Tottenham, Newcastle and Inter Milan.

For Arsenal fans, the adjacent logical measurement is for Nwaneri to get a Prem start.

The Emirates faithful are hopeless for different teenage sensation to idolise and adore.

It is wherefore societal media erupted erstwhile Arteta claimed: "The lad is ready" aft the 5-1 Carabao Cup 3rd circular triumph implicit Bolton – with 2 goals from Nwaneri connected his archetypal start.

There is nary uncertainty that helium possesses the method quality to marque an interaction successful this Arsenal archetypal team, but these days, it is Prem-proven physicality that truly wins implicit Arteta.

The Gunners brag is obsessed with tallness and powerfulness and since the commencement of his tenure successful December 2019, Arteta has transformed this squad from tiny toddlers to towering titans.

It is understood that nether Arteta, definite players person 3 oregon much sessions a week of dense lifting successful the gym to get them to the required standard.

And gazing implicit his starting XI present is similar staring astatine a metropolis of skyscrapers. William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey are each six foot-plus and strapping.

This big-man obsession has influenced recruitment too. Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino [both 6ft 2in] were signed this summertime with precisely that successful mind.

Nwaneri whitethorn person the maturity of a seasoned pro, but with the assemblage of a kid lasting astatine 5ft 9in, determination appears to beryllium a agelong mode to spell earlier Arteta takes the plunge from the off.

And with giants similar Rice, Partey and Merino to take from successful midfield, Arteta is improbable to stray from what helium knows gets results successful the Prem.

The bully quality is that Arteta has proven to beryllium diligent erstwhile waiting for players to beef up with varying methods – and it surely pays off.

The champion illustration is Bukayo Saka – a spindly baby-face erstwhile helium made his debut successful November 2018 nether Unai Emery arsenic a 17-year-old, and had hardly changed by the clip Arteta took over.

In bid to support him from being bullied by physically-superior opposition, Arteta kept Saka astatine left-back until helium was acceptable bulk-wise to instrumentality connected a demanding right-wing role.

Saka’s mindset and dedication disconnected the transportation has besides been vital, having a location gym installed astatine his home, putting successful other rehab hours to enactment acceptable and admitting to relying connected his mother’s nutritious Nigerian location cooking.

While Saka’s endowment shone done successful those aboriginal years, Arteta inactive demanded much from him physically. The large alteration came successful the summertime of 2023 wherever Saka’s assemblage signifier went from lad to man. It took 4 years, but Saka is present astatine the expected level.

Ben White was another. A skinny, fresh-cheeked endowment erstwhile helium joined from Brighton for £50m successful July 2021 arsenic a 23-year-old, criticised connected his Gunners Prem debut successful a 2-0 decision astatine Brentford for being excessively soft.

Fast guardant 3 years and White sent Arsenal fans brainsick this summertime erstwhile pictures emerged from pre-season of the right-back seat pressing 40kg dumbbells.

Arteta’s different means of bulking is done the indebtedness market, sending a 19-year-old Saliba retired to Nice and Marseille betwixt 2020 and 2022 to get to grips with men’s football.

Now, the French centre-back is 1 of the champion and astir intimidating defenders successful the division, capable to lucifer the likes of Erling Haaland for gait and power.

It does not ever work. Arteta signed Fabio Vieira for astir £30m from Porto successful June 2022, and instantly enactment him connected a programme to marque him much muscular.

For immoderate reason, the 24-year-old playmaker ne'er truly appeared to accommodate to the Prem and was sent backmost to Porto connected indebtedness this summertime successful a bid to resurrect his career.

Nwaneri is improbable to person a large maturation spurt immoderate clip soon to abruptly go a starter – his carnal improvement volition instrumentality clip and Arteta volition proceed to support him.

But, arsenic 5ft 10in Saka has shown, it volition beryllium worthy the wait.