Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has slammed Mikel Arteta for giving Ethan Nwaneri his senior debut in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Brentford. The 15-year-old was brought on in stoppage time, becoming the youngest ever player to play in the Premier League.
Nwaneri, who only made his Under-21s debut two weeks ago, came on for Fabio Vieira and further fuelled the travelling support's 'feel good' feeling. The Gunners are now heading into the international break top of the Premier League and with another Hale End starlet on the road to greater opportunities.
Arteta will be hoping that he can carry over the momentum generated by Nwaneri's debut into the congested fixture schedule that's emerging in the horizon. However, despite the Spaniard's effort to demonstrate a clear pathway into the first-team and to expand his squad using club resources, he's been slammed for doing so.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta reveals why he gave Ethan Nwaneri debut vs Brentford as Cesc Fabregas record broken
Speaking to talkSPORT, Murphy explained why he is not convinced that debuting Nwaneri was the right decision. He said: "I am not convinced it is the best move for a young player, I am really not.
"I have seen superstars come on the scene at a young age and thrive and go on and carry on, but there has also been a lot who have fallen by the wayside."
Murphy continued by naming Nwaneri as a 'super-talent'. But, the former England international questioned Arteta as to why an established player in the Under-21s was not selected instead.
"He is obviously a super-talent," he said. "Doing well in training and impressing everybody, but surely they have got other 18, 19 and 20-year-olds who are further ahead in their development who could have gone on the bench. I think he is probably trying to keep a young superstar happy."
Arteta admitted after Arsenal's clash with Brentford that he had only recently met the teenage sensation. The Spaniard paid homage to Per Mertesacker and the academy staff for their work with Nwaneri.
"I met the boy (and) really liked what I saw," Arteta said in his post-match press conference. "Per Mertesacker and the academy staff are giving me really good information, Edu as well.
"I met him, he’s trained a couple of times with us. Yesterday he had to come because we have injuries, especially the injury of Martin [Odegaard], and then I had that feeling from yesterday that if the opportunity could come that I was going to do it and I just done it."
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