All Records Ethan Nwaneri Has Broken at Arsenal
- Think Football Ideas
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
Every once in a while, a player emerges who makes you double-check the matchday programme to see if the birth year is a typo.
For Arsenal, that player is Ethan Nwaneri. The teenager has gone from prodigy-in-the-making to record-breaking reality, rewriting club history before he’s even celebrated his 18th birthday.
A Goalscoring Head Start Like No Other
When you talk about prolific teenagers in English football, the conversation inevitably drifts towards names like Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney. But in Arsenal’s 138-year history, nobody has found the net more times before turning 18 than Nwaneri.
Player | Turned 18 | Goals Before 18 |
Ethan Nwaneri | 21/03/2025 | 8 |
John Radford | 22/02/1962 | 8 |
Cliff Bastin | 14/03/1930 | 6 |
Cesc Fabregas | 04/05/2005 | 3 |
Stewart Robson | 06/11/1982 | 3 |
By March 2025, the Hale End graduate had matched John Radford’s long-standing record of eight goals as a 17-year-old – before calmly slotting in another to take the outright lead. That feat placed him ahead of legends like Cliff Bastin and modern icons such as Cesc Fabregas, whose own teenage exploits once seemed untouchable.
The Youngest of the Young in English Football
It feels almost surreal to think back to September 2022, when Nwaneri stepped off the bench against Brentford at 15 years and 181 days old, becoming the youngest player in English top-flight history.
At the time, it felt like a symbolic moment – the birth of a new generation at Arsenal. In hindsight, it was the opening chapter of a record book that’s been filling up fast.
Cup Nights, League Landmarks, and a Taste for the Big Stage
The 2024/25 season saw Nwaneri deliver on the promise of that early debut. Two goals against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup announced his intent, and a curling strike at Preston North End showed his eye for the spectacular.
By November, he was on the Premier League scoresheet against Nottingham Forest, entering the top ten youngest scorers in the division’s history.
His most telling performances, however, came under the bright lights of European competition. Goals against Girona and PSV Eindhoven in consecutive Champions League fixtures made him the youngest player ever to achieve that in the tournament.
His strike in Eindhoven didn’t just seal a knockout-stage win; it made him the third youngest scorer in that phase since the Champions League was rebranded in 1992.
Rubbing Shoulders with Rooney and Owen
The numbers put Nwaneri in elite company. In terms of total goals for a Premier League club before turning 18, only Rooney and Owen have managed more. That’s rarified air for any player, let alone one who’s still working towards his driving licence.
Why This Matters for Arsenal’s Future
Statistics alone don’t capture the full significance of Nwaneri’s rise. His adaptability across attacking roles, composure in front of goal, and ability to influence games against seasoned professionals point towards a career trajectory that could mirror the club’s ambitions under Mikel Arteta.
It’s not simply about what he’s achieved before 18 – it’s about the foundations he’s laying for the decade to come. And with a new contract in place, Arsenal have ensured those milestones will keep piling up in North London red, not elsewhere.
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