Ethan Nwaneri may have just had his biggest wake-up call yet at Arsenal

Ethan Nwaneri is only 19 years old, but it already feels like he’s been through a bit of a rollercoaster in his young career.

Nwaneri became the youngest Premier League player of all-time at the age of just 15 a few years ago, and it seemed like he had the world at his feet.

Two seasons ago, Nwaneri got his first real break into the Arsenal first team and he looked brilliant as Bukayo Saka’s deputy.

However, last year, Nwaneri’s campaign wasn’t so promising.

Noni Madueke’s arrival and Max Dowman’s emergence led to Nwaneri slipping down the pecking order. And eventually he went out on loan to Marseille.

Nwaneri failed to impress over in France, and, ultimately, it sadly feels like his development has stunted.

The teenager needs to get back on track, and, this week, he may well have had a wake-up call that helps him refocus.

Reiss Nelson Arsenal release could be Ethan Nwaneri’s wake-up call

Long before Nwaneri was seen as the next top talent out of Hale End, there was Reiss Nelson.

It’s a long time ago now, but we mustn’t forget just how highly rated Nelson was when he was coming through at Arsenal.

Nelson was supposed to be better than Bukayo Saka as an academy product, but, sadly, his career hasn’t gone to plan.

Much like Nwaneri, he starred during his early days as a teenager, and he had a loan abroad – his spell with Hoffenheim was wildly more successful than Nwaneri’s time with Marseille.

However, after injury issues and stalled development, Nelson is now a free agent after being released by Arsenal this week.

Of course, injury issues are not Nelson’s fault, but this is a warning to Nwaneri that Arsenal are a club that doesn’t wait for anyone and doesn’t owe anyone anything.

At one point, Nelson was Arsenal’s next great hope, but once that dream faded, Arsenal didn’t let sentiment take hold and simply let him go.

If Nwaneri wants to become a star at Arsenal, he needs to kick on.