Mikel Arteta has only started the £74 million star once.

Although priced at £74 million, the young prospect Ethan Nwaneri has only started one match under Mikel Arteta's management this season.

Arsenal boasts one of the most valuable squads in the Premier League, featuring many players with sky-high valuations. However, the main focus right now isn’t on the established stars but on 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, valued at £74 million, who has only started once this season under Mikel Arteta.

Even though he is seen as Arsenal’s future, coach Mikel Arteta remains cautious in deploying Nwaneri. Since the start of the 2025/26 season, the young English player has appeared in just five matches, starting only once in the League Cup win against Port Vale.

In Premier League and Champions League matches, Nwaneri has mostly been brought on as a late substitute. Arteta’s decision has sparked debate among Arsenal fans.

Some believe Arteta is carefully managing the youngster to avoid putting too much pressure on him, while others argue Nwaneri deserves more chances given Arsenal’s inconsistent attacking form.

Nwaneri is regarded as the next gem from the Hale End academy. In 2022, he made Premier League history by debuting for Arsenal’s first team at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest player ever in the league. Under Arteta’s guidance, he has continued to flourish, making 43 first-team appearances, scoring 9 goals, and providing 2 assists — impressive stats for a teenager.

Last August, Arsenal quickly secured a new contract with Nwaneri extending until summer 2030 to retain the young talent pursued across Europe. According to CIES Football Observatory, the 2007-born player is currently valued at €85 million (approximately £74 million).

Nwaneri’s opportunities might come sooner than expected as Martin Odegaard suffers a knee ligament injury and will be out until after the November international break. Although Eberechi Eze is seen as a temporary replacement, he is unlikely to play full-time in both the Premier League and Champions League.

This could be the right moment for Arteta to experiment more with Nwaneri in the attacking midfield role, where the young player has shown standout potential. With refined ball control, creativity, and rare confidence for an 18-year-old, Nwaneri is viewed as the “precious gem” Arsenal needs to nurture.

Even with just one start this season, Ethan Nwaneri has demonstrated exceptional talent and growth potential. If Arteta places more trust in him moving forward, the Hale End prodigy could become a key figure for Arsenal’s upcoming era.