Mikel Arteta's £4 million risk suddenly doesn't look so crazy for Arsenal

Arsenal decided to pay Ethan Nwaneri, a teenager, £4 million per year in salary. At the time, this might have looked like a bold call. But fast forward to today, and Ethan Nwaneri is paying Arsenal in dividends, and then some.

According to Capology, Ethan Nwaneri is Arsenal's 18th highest-paid player. His current contract, which was signed in August of this year, pays him a base weekly sum of £80,000. Per year, that's £4,160,000.

To many, this might seem like an unfathomable contract to grant a teenager. Indeed, it's higher than Arsenal is used to paying for a player of Nwaneri's age. Max Dowman, for example, is on £35,000 per week, being a few years younger than Nwaneri himself.

Let's be real, Ethan Nwaneri is worth more than £4 million to Arsenal

Against Brighton and Hove Albion, it was Ethan Nwaneri who stole the show. The Hale End graduate slotted home a goal that only the most experienced players could pull off, into the far post.

Aside from his goal, Nwaneri looked lively throughout. He was persistently driving the ball forward with his close control dribbling, and popping off passes left, right and center to involve his teammates in transitional play more often.

To cut a long story short, Nwaneri sent a clear message to Mikel Arteta last night, in that he needs to start more games. At worst, he deserves to get more rotational minutes.

The truth is that Arsenal fans have never been underwhelmed by Nwaneri. That's not even taking his age as a factor, since that's often forgotten about whenever he plays. Nwaneri is considered a senior Arsenal player now, and he plays like one.

Ethan Nwaneri still has a long time in his Arsenal career to become one of Arsenal's most important players. Right now, he is considered as a rotational player, playing in moments where Mikel Arteta needs to rest his more senior players.

Despite the lack of minutes this season, any claims that paying Ethan Nwaneri as high as he is was risky were wide of the mark. If anything, Arsenal would be paying him more for his talent if he were further along in his career. He is underpaid because of his age.

And the more that this season progresses, the more that Arsenal will feed him game time. He needs that to develop, even if Mikel Arteta is still careful about playing his younger players more than they need to.

Recently, Arteta made a promise to Arsenal fans that Arsenal youngsters are comfortable and motivated at Arsenal.

In his own words, Arteta said: “Young players at Arsenal believe that they’re going to have a pathway. If they earn it then it doesn’t matter how you’re called. You’re going to get a chance. They know that. They believe in that and they really want it, which is the most important thing”.

Arsenal fans certainly hope that this comes true. The future is bright at Arsenal, and while the project looks to be nearing the final stage now, why not pay players for their talent?