Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri instantly joins Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in exclusive three-man Champions League club
Ethan Nwaneri become just the third Englishman to start a Champions League knockout game before turning 18. The 17-year-old was once again elected to start on the right wing for the Gunners‘ historic 7-1 win away at PSV in the last-16 first leg. AFPNwaneri has been one of Arsenal’s standout players this season[/caption] Nwaneri has established himself as a key player for the north London outfit in the absence of injured star Bukayo Saka. In what has been a stunning breakthrough season, the talented teenager brought up his eighth goal of the season against PSV. It was another dazzling display from Nwaneri as he got on the score sheet to fire home Arsenal’s second as Mikel Arteta‘s men went into the breaking leading 3-1., before running riot in the second period. He smashed home into the top left corner from six yards out after being picked out by Myles Lewis-Skelly. His goal is the first time that two English teenagers have combined for a strike in Champions League history. Nwaneri’s start against PSV is an historic outing for the attacking midfielder, who has become the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League knockout tie for Arsenal aged just 17 years and 348 days. And he has followed Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in starting in a knockout tie in the competition before his 18th birthday. Foden was the first Englishman to do so in March 2018 when he was named in Pep Guardiola‘s line-up for Manchester City‘s 2-1 defeat to Swiss club Basel in the last-16 second leg. Bellingham was then the next Three Lions star to get himself in the record books – doing so for Borussia Dortmund in their last-16 first leg victory over Sevilla in February 2021. With two Champions League goals to his name already, Nwaneri has already scored more than Foden did [0] in his compatriot’s first season playing in Europe’s premier tournament. Nwaneri has scored eight goals in all competitions this campaignGetty The teenager has been tipped for a first call-up to England’s senior side While he has doubled Bellingham‘s tally from the 2020/21 campaign. In another incredible stat, Nwaneri is just Arsenal’s second youngest player to appear in a Champions League knockout match. That honour belongs to former skipper Cesc Fabregas, who was 39 days younger than Nwaneri when he created history. The Spaniard’s record-breaking outing came against Bayern Munich in March 2005. In terms of youngest players to ever feature in the Champions League for Arsenal, Nwaneri is fifth on the list. Jack Wilshere is the only person to make their Champions League debut at the age of 16 – doing so against Dynamo Kyiv in November 2008. Ainsley Maitland-Niles then follows, with the versatile midfielder – now at Lyon – featuring off the bench against Galatasaray in 2014. Bayern winger Serge Gnabry – another Hale End graduate – was also 17 when he played against Schalke in October 2012, with Fabregas fourth following his outing against Panathinaikos in October 2004. The winner of the PSV vs Arsenal tie will face the winner of the Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid last-16 tie.
Ethan Nwaneri become just the third Englishman to start a Champions League knockout game before turning 18.
The 17-year-old was once again elected to start on the right wing for the Gunners‘ historic 7-1 win away at PSV in the last-16 first leg.
Nwaneri has established himself as a key player for the north London outfit in the absence of injured star Bukayo Saka.
In what has been a stunning breakthrough season, the talented teenager brought up his eighth goal of the season against PSV.
It was another dazzling display from Nwaneri as he got on the score sheet to fire home Arsenal’s second as Mikel Arteta‘s men went into the breaking leading 3-1., before running riot in the second period.
He smashed home into the top left corner from six yards out after being picked out by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
His goal is the first time that two English teenagers have combined for a strike in Champions League history.
Nwaneri’s start against PSV is an historic outing for the attacking midfielder, who has become the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League knockout tie for Arsenal aged just 17 years and 348 days.
And he has followed Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in starting in a knockout tie in the competition before his 18th birthday.
Foden was the first Englishman to do so in March 2018 when he was named in Pep Guardiola‘s line-up for Manchester City‘s 2-1 defeat to Swiss club Basel in the last-16 second leg.
Bellingham was then the next Three Lions star to get himself in the record books – doing so for Borussia Dortmund in their last-16 first leg victory over Sevilla in February 2021.
With two Champions League goals to his name already, Nwaneri has already scored more than Foden did [0] in his compatriot’s first season playing in Europe’s premier tournament.
While he has doubled Bellingham‘s tally from the 2020/21 campaign.
In another incredible stat, Nwaneri is just Arsenal’s second youngest player to appear in a Champions League knockout match.
That honour belongs to former skipper Cesc Fabregas, who was 39 days younger than Nwaneri when he created history.
The Spaniard’s record-breaking outing came against Bayern Munich in March 2005.
In terms of youngest players to ever feature in the Champions League for Arsenal, Nwaneri is fifth on the list.
Jack Wilshere is the only person to make their Champions League debut at the age of 16 – doing so against Dynamo Kyiv in November 2008.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles then follows, with the versatile midfielder – now at Lyon – featuring off the bench against Galatasaray in 2014.
Bayern winger Serge Gnabry – another Hale End graduate – was also 17 when he played against Schalke in October 2012, with Fabregas fourth following his outing against Panathinaikos in October 2004.
The winner of the PSV vs Arsenal tie will face the winner of the Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid last-16 tie.
