Arsenal’s teenage sensation, Ethan Nwaneri, made history on Wednesday night by becoming the third-youngest player to score in a Champions League knockout match. The Gunners thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in their last-16 clash, with Nwaneri netting his eighth goal of the season—a first-time finish from Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cross for Arsenal’s second of the night.
At just 17 years and 348 days old, Nwaneri now ranks behind only Bojan Krkic (17 years, 217 days) and Jude Bellingham (17 years, 289 days) as the youngest players to score in a Champions League knockout match, surpassing Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who scored at 17 years and 363 days.
Nwaneri’s remarkable achievement comes as he has continued to step up in a season where key players have been sidelined due to injuries. His inclusion in Arsenal’s starting lineup made him only the third English player to start a Champions League knockout fixture before turning 18, joining an elite list that includes Bellingham and Phil Foden.
In an even more historic moment, Nwaneri’s goal, assisted 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 all but sealed their place in the quarter-finals, where they are likely to face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. Captain Martin Odegaard praised the club’s rising stars, highlighting Nwaneri’s and Lewis-Skelly’s contributions to the Gunners’ impressive run.
