'He's onto everything!' - Mikel Arteta stopped Ethan Nwaneri from 'slouching' as Arsenal starlet reveals manager's 'intense' impact

Nwaneri enjoyed a breakout season at the Emirates Stadium in 2024-25, with the 18-year-old stating that "there's a lot to learn" from his manager. That includes being told not to "slouch" by the Spaniard.

Nwaneri told The Athletic: "There’s a lot to learn from Mikel. If you ever met him, you’d see how intense he is. How he’s so good with his words and he knows what he’s saying. He’s elevated my game, definitely. There’s so much, not even just tactically but mentally too. On a personal level, he’s helped me a lot. He’s really big on body language and the way that he presents himself. Before, maybe the way that I’d walk or slouch a bit or just the way I’d be sitting, he’s onto everything. That’s helped me just sharpen up in my mind and it’s helped me a lot."

Nwaneri has scored nine goals and assisted two in 39 appearances for the club, though saw his game-time reduced towards the end of the season. "Going from playing quite a lot to not playing as much is normal in football," he added, "So I don’t really take it to heart. I understand Mikel’s got a decision to make at the end of the day, and it’s hard for him to make.

"He obviously wants to include everyone but he can’t. But I think it’s part of football and it’s those times that can really define where you’re going to be. I think I’ve dealt with it well. I’m in a good place mentally and physically."

Nwaneri is the youngest player in Lee Carsley's England Under-21 squad, which begins its defence of the European Championship this week. The Young Lions take on Czechia on Thursday before games with Slovenia and Germany in the group stage.