Why Ethan Nwaneri is not allowed in Arsenal's dressing room | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has confirmed 17-year-old starlet Ethan Nwaneri is still blocked from getting ready for games with the senior Arsenal squad due to safeguarding reasons.

The youngest player in Premier League history, Nwaneri has enjoyed a first-team role this season and has stepped up to help cover for Bukayo Saka's injury absence. He has three goals in his last five games across all competitions, including scoring in the 5-1 thumping of Manchester City at the weekend.

Despite his increasing role in the squad, Nwaneri is still not permitted to prepare for games in the Arsenal dressing room as Premier League safeguarding rules state players under 18 years old must get dressed for matches away from the senior squad.

Wary of making Nwaneri feel like an outsider in the squad, Arteta has hailed close friend Myles Lewis-Skelly, who only turned 18 in September, for helping bridge the gap.

"When you see those two walking next to each other, talking to each other, there is a bond there and a chemistry there," Arteta said of the two young stars. "I imagine for them it is special because at the moment they are still in different dressing rooms.

"Ethan cannot be in our dressing room still, which is unbelievable. He needs to get dressed somewhere else, even on matchday.

"So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it is lucky. They are very lucky to have each other."

Nwaneri will not be permitted to formally join the Arsenal dressing room until he turns 18 on March 21, before which he will have to continue getting prepared away from his teammates.