Ethan Nwaneri shattered the record for the youngest player in Premier League history on Sunday afternoon.Arsenal are suffering from numerous injuries at the moment.That meant that Mikel Arteta named Nwaneri, just 15 years and 181 days old, on the bench for their Premier League match against Brentford.Arsenal were dominant at the Brentford Community Stadium.Goals from William Saliba and Gabriel Jesus gave them a two-goal lead at half-time.Fabio Vieira's brilliant strike from 25 yards four minutes after the break made it 3-0 to the away side.With Arsenal cruising to victory, Arteta decided to give Nwaneri his debut.He replaced Vieira in stoppage time for a piece of Premier League history.
VIDEO: Nwaneri becomes the youngest player Premier League player ever
Arsenal fans mock Brentford after Nwaneri's substitution
Understandably, Arsenal fans were in great spirits and decided to mock Brentford after the youngster took to the pitch.
Per Goal's Charles Watts, Arsenal fans chanted at Brentford: "He's only 15, he's only 15, how s*** must you be, he's only 15".
They also could be heard chanting: "School in the morning! He's got school in the morning!"
It's some achievement for Nwaneri, who becomes the first ever 15-year-old to play in the Premier League.
The previous record holder was Harvey Elliott, who was 16 years and 30 days when he made his debut for Fulham.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Arsenal - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - September 18, 2022 Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
The 10 youngest players in Premier League history
View the 10 youngest players in England's top tier since 1992, per Transfermarkt, below...
10. Jack Wilshere | Blackburn Rovers vs ARSENAL FC (2008) | 16 years 08 months 12 days
9. Jack Robinson | Hull City vs LIVERPOOL FC (2010) | 16 years 08 months 07 days
8. Reece Oxford | Arsenal FC vs WEST HAM UNITED (2015) | 16 years 07 months 24 days
7. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy | Sunderland vs ASTON VILLA (2015) | 16 years 06 months 14 days
6. Jose Baxter | EVERTON FC vs Blackburn Rovers (2008) | 16 years 06 months 09 days
5. Aaron Lennon | Tottenham Hotspur vs LEEDS UNITED (2003) | 16 years 04 months 07 days
4. Izzy Brown | WEST BROMWICH ALBION vs Wigan Athletic (2013) | 16 years 03 months 27 days
3. Matthew Briggs | Middlesbrough FC vs FULHAM FC (2007) | 16 years 02 months 07 days
2. Harvey Elliott | Wolverhampton Wanderers vs FULHAM FC (2019) | 16 years 01 month 00 days
1. Ethan Nwaneri | Brentford FC vs ARSENAL FC (2022) | 15 years 05 months 28 days
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Arsenal - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - September 18, 2022 Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri in action REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Arteta praises Nwaneri
Arteta paid tribute to the youngster after he made his debut.
“It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy, I really liked what I saw,†he told reporters, per the Evening Standard.
“I had information from Per and Edu, he trained with us a couple of times. He had to come with us because of Martin’s injury and I had that feeling yesterday that if the opportunity could come, I would do it. He deserves it.â€
Nwaneri is a name to remember. You have to be very special to make your Premier League debut at sucha young age.
His record is going to take some beating, that's for sure.