Ethan Nwaneri is proving a point to Mikel Arteta after disregarding Sir Alex Ferguson’s advice.

Hopefully, Mikel Arteta reflects more on Ethan Nwaneri’s performance than on Myles Lewis-Skelly’s display.

The full-back was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card for his challenge on PSV Eindhoven’s Richard Ledezma—his third potential sending-off this season—before being substituted with Arsenal comfortably leading 3-0. But such moments are part of a young player’s development. Mistakes happen, and they are essential for growth.

At the same time, young talents also have the ability to mesmerize, as Lewis-Skelly has shown this season, and as Nwaneri demonstrated in Eindhoven. Just shy of his 18th birthday, Nwaneri was outstanding in Arsenal’s dominant performance, shining from the outset and scoring a superb second goal from Lewis-Skelly’s cross.

With injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli—along with Arteta’s apparent lack of faith in Raheem Sterling—Nwaneri has been thrust into a bigger role and has adapted quickly. This could be a defining period for the winger, who appears to have limitless potential, just as it will be a valuable learning experience for Lewis-Skelly. However, it also raises important questions for Arteta.

One of the criticisms throughout his five-year tenure has been his reluctance to fully trust young players. While some have been introduced into the first team, few have been given the chance to establish themselves. This approach has seen several promising talents leave the club, including Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, and Reiss Nelson, who ultimately struggled to cement long-term roles under Arteta.

Should he have placed greater trust in youth? Would doing so have allowed him to rotate key players more and potentially prevented the current injury crisis? These are questions without clear answers. But perhaps Arteta should have considered the wisdom of Sir Alex Ferguson, who once said:

“The thing about young people is, if you give them an opportunity, not only do they seize it, they never let you down.”