Arsenal’s teenage prodigy, Ethan Nwaneri, made Champions League history on Wednesday night, becoming the third-youngest player to score in a knockout stage match as the Gunners thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in their last-16 clash.
The 17-year-old academy graduate fired home a first-time finish from Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cross, netting Arsenal’s second goal of the night and adding to his impressive tally in a breakthrough season under Mikel Arteta.
With injuries sidelining key players, Nwaneri has stepped up in Arsenal’s attack, delivering another crucial goal when it mattered most.
At 17 years and 348 days, he now ranks behind only Bojan Krkic (17 years, 217 days) and Jude Bellingham (17 years, 289 days) as the youngest scorers in a Champions League knockout match. He also surpasses Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who netted at 17 years and 363 days.
His start in the match also placed him in an elite group, making him only the third English player to feature in a Champions League knockout fixture before turning 18—joining Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
In a historic moment, Nwaneri’s goal—set up by fellow Hale End graduate Lewis-Skelly—marked the first time two English teenagers had combined for a goal in Champions League history. Arsenal’s dominant performance now puts them on course to face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals. Captain Martin Odegaard was full of praise for the club’s rising stars.
