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Folarin Balogun hints Arsenal could have another Bukayo Saka on their hands
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has a flourishing academy below the first team.
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has backed Ethan Nwaneri to follow in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka. Balogun was impressed with what he saw of the teenager before he went on loan to Reims in early August.
Nwaneri, 15, became the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League on Sunday. He came on as a late substitute during Arsenal's 3-0 win over Brentford.
He has also become the youngest player to play for the Gunners in their history. Nwaneri has made just two appearances for the Arsenal under-21 side.
But Balogun admits the midfielder caught his eye in pre-season before he headed to France. He hopes the youngster can continue to show his ability to first-team staff.
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Balogun told Sky Sports: "When I was sorting out my loan towards the end of pre-season, I noticed he was training with us a few times. I spoke to the under-18s manager and he told me that he was a really good player and he said he's got a really bright future.
"So I definitely had an eye out for him and it was just really good to see him make his debut. I just hope that he can just carry on impressing people in the first team."
Meanwhile, Balogun has compared Nwaneri's rise to that of Saka. England star Saka became a key part of the Arsenal squad at a young age and Balogun hopes that can be repeated with Nwaneri.
He added: "Yeah I'm sure they have a plan. There's been a lot of players in the past that have kicked on really.
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"The likes of Reiss Nelson, Bukayo, they've played first team really early. I think Bukayo made his debut when he was 17.
"So I'm sure Arsenal have a plan for him and I'm sure if he just keeps his head down and works hard, he will see through that plan."
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said the decision to put Nwaneri on his bench, and bring him on, was a gut instinct. He said: “It was a feeling that I had yesterday, I don’t know why.
"The first day I met him I looked him in his eyes and everyone was telling me about him, Per [Mertesacker] was telling me about him, and because of the injuries we only have 12 or 13 senior players yesterday to put in the squad and we decided to bring him, and that’s it."
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