IT IS the bulk, not the brains, that still has Mikel Arteta hesitant when it comes to Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal academy product Nwaneri, 17, is in the Premier League’s history books as the competition’s youngest ever player – coming on as a 15-year-old sub at Brentford in September 2022.
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And this season has provided glimpses of the young midfielder’s seemingly limitless potential.
Three Carabao Cup goals in his first two Arsenal starts have been followed by notable substitute appearances away at Tottenham, Newcastle and Inter Milan.
For Arsenal fans, the next logical step is for Nwaneri to get a Prem start.
The Emirates faithful are desperate for another teenage sensation to idolise and adore.
It is why social media erupted when Arteta claimed: “The boy is ready” after the 5-1 Carabao Cup third round win over Bolton – with two goals from Nwaneri on his first start.
There is no doubt that he possesses the technical ability to make an impact in this Arsenal first team, but these days, it is Prem-proven physicality that really wins over Arteta.
The Gunners boss is obsessed with height and power and since the start of his tenure in December 2019, Arteta has transformed this squad from tiny toddlers to towering titans.
It is understood that under Arteta, certain players have three or more sessions a week of heavy lifting in the gym to get them to the required standard.
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And gazing over his starting XI now is like staring at a city of skyscrapers. William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey are all six foot-plus and strapping.
This big-man obsession has influenced recruitment too. Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino [both 6ft 2in] were signed this summer with exactly that in mind.
Nwaneri may have the maturity of a seasoned pro, but with the body of a kid standing at 5ft 9in, there appears to be a long way to go before Arteta takes the plunge from the off.
And with giants like Rice, Partey and Merino to choose from in midfield, Arteta is unlikely to stray from what he knows gets results in the Prem.
The good news is that Arteta has proven to be patient when waiting for players to beef up with varying methods – and it certainly pays off.
The best example is Bukayo Saka – a spindly baby-face when he made his debut in November 2018 under Unai Emery as a 17-year-old, and had barely changed by the time Arteta took over.
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In order to protect him from being bullied by physically-superior opposition, Arteta kept Saka at left-back until he was ready bulk-wise to take on a demanding right-wing role.
Saka’s mindset and dedication off the pitch has also been vital, having a home gym installed at his home, putting in extra rehab hours to stay fit and admitting to relying on his mother’s nutritious Nigerian home cooking.
While Saka’s talent shone through in those early years, Arteta still demanded more from him physically. The big change came in the summer of 2023 where Saka’s body shape went from boy to man. It took four years, but Saka is now at the expected level.
Ben White was another. A skinny, fresh-cheeked talent when he joined from Brighton for £50m in July 2021 as a 23-year-old, criticised on his Gunners Prem debut in a 2-0 defeat at Brentford for being too soft.
Fast forward three years and White sent Arsenal fans crazy this summer when pictures emerged from pre-season of the right-back bench pressing 40kg dumbbells.
Arteta’s other means of bulking is through the loan market, sending a 19-year-old Saliba out to Nice and Marseille between 2020 and 2022 to get to grips with men’s football.
Now, the French centre-back is one of the best and most intimidating defenders in the division, able to match the likes of Erling Haaland for pace and power.
It does not always work. Arteta signed Fabio Vieira for around £30m from Porto in June 2022, and instantly put him on a programme to make him more muscular.
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For whatever reason, the 24-year-old playmaker never really appeared to adapt to the Prem and was sent back to Porto on loan this summer in a bid to resurrect his career.
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Nwaneri is unlikely to have a major growth spurt any time soon to suddenly become a starter – his physical development will take time and Arteta will continue to protect him.
But, as 5ft 10in Saka has shown, it will be worth the wait.
