Mikel Merino agrees with Mikel Arteta as he makes 'scary' claim about Arsenal team-mate

Mikel Merino claims that Ethan Nwaneri is starting to 'scare' him after his Brentford performance.

The Arsenal academy graduate made his full Premier League debut as the Gunners secured a 3-1 success. It came at the same ground that Nwaneri, 17, became the club’s youngest-ever senior player.

And he repaid Arteta’s faith with a standout display against Brentford, with even his Arsenal teammates hailing his frightening abilities. Merino, who scored against the Bees, said: “He is an unbelievable player and also a really nice guy, really shy. He’s always keen to learn and try to listen to the more experienced players, the coach. Whatever can make him a better player, he’s always looking for.

‘But it’s not only him, all the young kids who are training with us, maybe not playing, but in the training sessions you can see that the academy is a big thing in this club also.

“They are such good players at such a young age that it is scary sometimes. I remember when I was 17, I was just a little kid, and these guys are playing against some of the best teams in Europe, the Premier League, the Champions League and they don’t care about it. We have to take care of them because they have a bright future ahead of them.”

Boss Arteta has also hailed Nwaneri for his performances. Speaking after the win against Brentford, he said: “The game became very difficult from yesterday because, again, we lost some players and had certain issues around the camp.

“We had to deal with that, we made some changes, Ethan [Nwaneri] making his Premier League debut, anyone that you put there, [they had the] right attitude, right level of performance and that sustains the level of the team.

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“Ethan’s played here before, so that’s a nice story, to get back to this one, I think he was really composed, really determined, taking risks, taking initiative. Very impressive.”

Nwaneri will be aiming to keep up his impressive displays over the next week. Arsenal take on Brighton this weekend ahead of the first-leg of their Carabao Cup meeting with Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium.

One man that Arteta will be without this weekend is defender Jurrien Timber. The Dutchman is suspended having picked up his fifth booking of the season against Brentford.

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