Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he expects Mikel Arteta to repay his earlier support in Arsenal’s top-four bid by allowing two of his key players to join Manchester City in January. Guardiola, determined to prevent Liverpool from winning the league, is eyeing Arsenal’s top talent to strengthen City’s squad for the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City is reportedly leading the race to sign Arsenal’s highly-rated 16-year-old star, Ethan Nwaneri. The young midfielder, who has impressed at Arsenal’s Hale End Academy with standout performances in both the Under-18s and Under-21s, is also attracting interest from Chelsea. Due to his age, Nwaneri cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 17, giving rival clubs the opportunity to make a move.
Nwaneri, who made history as Arsenal’s youngest-ever Premier League debutant at just 15 years old, has yet to make another appearance for the senior team. His potential departure, along with the recent exit of Charlie Patino, raises concerns about Arsenal’s ability to retain its top young talent.
Manchester City sees Nwaneri as a major prospect and could offer him a development pathway similar to that of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis. Arsenal’s Under-18 coach, Jack Wilshere, has praised Nwaneri’s versatility, calling him “exceptional” and highlighting his ability to play across various attacking positions.
With the summer transfer window approaching, Arsenal will need to act quickly to ensure they don’t lose their rising stars, with Nwaneri’s future set to be a key storyline in the coming months.
