Arsenal ace's dad denies his son made contract demand to Mikel Arteta as phone chat leaked

The father of Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri has rubbished claims that his son demanded more playing time before agreeing a new contract. The 18-year-old made his breakthrough with the Gunners last season, scoring nine goals in 37 appearances.

There was speculation earlier in the summer that the winger could be about to leave Arsenal, but the Hale End graduate is understood to have recently accepted a new five-year deal. However, there were previously suggestions that Nwaneri sought assurances from Mikel Arteta over game time before settling on fresh terms.

The youngster was criticised over his alleged request by talkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders. The former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker was asked by presenter Jeff Stelling earlier this month whether he felt that Nwaneri showing ambition was a good thing.

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Saunders replied: "Not when you are 18. Who do you think you are? You're 18 and you've done nothing. You're learning the game." However, the ex-Wolves and Wrexham manager has now revealed he later received a call from Nwaneri's dad, Obi, to set the record straight.

Speaking to talkSPORT on Monday, Saunders said: "I was on the putting green at Effingham and Jay Bothroyd went to school with his [Nwaneri’s] dad. He said, 'Can you put Dean on?' So I spoke to his dad, and fair play to him, he said that [demanding more game time] never happened.

"I said, 'If it's true, we were reacting to what was said in the newspaper.' So he should take it up with the newspaper as they wrote the story. They're all Aston Villa fans and he said, 'We've had the criticism off [Jamie] O'Hara and [Jason] Cundy, but when it comes from you, it hurts.'

"I said, 'I'm not criticising him, he's a great young player but if you're demanding game time off Arteta…' which apparently he didn't, so there you go. I spoke to his dad and he was a lovely bloke."

Saunders was also left red-faced after taking a dig at Nwaneri's agent for apparently giving the player bad advice. But he later learned on the phone call that the teenager is represented by his dad.

He added: "I said it must have been his agent asking for game time, but that's his dad. I didn't know his dad was his agent. I've got a son, and when your son gets criticised, it stings, but he's going to have to get used to it. This is life in the fast lane."

Earlier this month, Arsenal legend Martin Keown laughed off speculation that Nwaneri could potentially leave the Gunners to join Chelsea. Despite questions over where he stands in the pecking order at the Emirates, Keown believes that Arteta is tracking his progress closely and will give him opportunities when the right time comes.

The former Arsenal defender was speaking after comparing Nwaneri's situation to that of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli when they were youngsters.

Keown told talkSPORT: "I take you back to the [FA] Cup final that Arteta won. In that game, who sat on the bench and didn't come on? Saka. That looked painful. With Martinelli, a lot of people were crying out for him to make a start, but he [Arteta] does it when he thinks it's right.

"I think Nwaneri is on the same path. He is a wonderful talent. He's being protected by Arteta. It's not to do with ability, he will get his chance."

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