Gifted young gun commits to Arsenal: no doubts, no shortage of swagger

A summer of great business has continued with Arsenal reportedly coming to an agreement with Ethan Nwaneri. The England Under-21 international has finally put pen to paper on a five-year deal.

Reports that Nwaneri was stalling over guaranteed playing time appear to be wide of the mark and have only served to portray Nwaneri in a negative light. For somebody who likes to do his talking on the pitch, Arsenal's new contract offer could not have come quickly enough.

However, Mikel Arteta will be delighted with the accusation that Nwaneri is developing a little swagger.

Arteta has been working with Nwaneri on his body language

According to Nwaneri, the Arsenal boss has been working with the youngster on his body language. “He's really big on body language and the way that he presents himself. He puts that onto me,“ Nwaneri told the Daily Mail.

He described how Arteta has challenged him on the way that he walks, slouches and even sits. It is clear that Arteta is intent on changing Nwaneri's mindset and outward persona.

He's not the only one either. Away on international duty with the Under-21s at the Euros, it has been revealed that Nwaneri's great friend, Omari Hutchinson, has urged the Arsenal wonder-kid to accept and embrace his role as the main man.

With the recent signing of Noni Madueke - and the reported interest in the likes of Eberechi Eze, Rodrygo and Xavi Simons - Nwaneri can be forgiven for feeling overlooked. It's difficult to consider yourself as the main man in such exalted company, particularly when you are so young.

But swagger is exactly what Nwaneri must ooze. If he wants to challenge Martin Odegaard for a central attacking role, then he must convince both fans and more importantly himself that he is better than the rest. Maradona, Ronaldo, and Pele - they all had swagger. Even Messi, in his own understated way, had flex in the way that he would walk coolly away after scoring an outrageous goal.

Self-belief is an 'elusive imp' and Nwaneri must find it

Self-belief is an elusive imp — just as likely to lie hidden for hours in the long meadow grass as it is to roar into the psyche on a Ducati Panigale. Now is the time for Nwaneri to convince himself that the things that he does on the pitch are transcendent and boundless. The way that he drifts inside and shoots are not ordinary by any stretch.

Much was made of Nwaneri’s underperformance at the Under-21 Euros. It’s fair to say he played without the swagger he’s earned the right to express — even as he returned home a European champion. This season will be an important one for Ethan Nwaneri and his elusive imp.