Ethan Nwaneri recently visited St John’s Upper Holloway Primary School, the very place where his football journey started. As a young pupil, Ethan joined Premier League Primary Stars sessions run by Arsenal in the Community coach Joseph, who still leads these sessions today. The programme helps children stay active, learn teamwork, and gives teachers confidence in running PE classes.
For the pupils, seeing Ethan return was an unforgettable moment. Later that week, they even watched him score for Arsenal in a 2-0 win over Brighton, as highlighted by SoftFootball.
During the visit, Ethan reflected on his time at St John’s in a video shared by Arsenal on their official X account, saying:
This was my early years from, like, the age 4 or 5 all the way through to 11. So, you know, there’s a lot of memories here, and it feels special, and good to come back.
Pupils were eager to ask him questions. One asked if he enjoyed playing at Arsenal, to which Ethan replied. Others wanted to know if he had met players like Saka, Beth Mead, and Chloe Kelly, and Ethan happily confirmed he had. The excitement was electric, with children cheering and soaking in every word from their local hero. Arsenal staff praised the pupils’ teamwork and effort during a small football activity and rewarded them with tickets to watch Ethan in action.
Watch the video below:
Arsenal in the Community has been delivering Premier League Primary Stars since 2017, reaching thousands of children through over 6,000 sessions in schools.
Ethan, who recently signed a five-year deal with Arsenal, said during the visit:
So, it’s 40 years now Arsenal have been working in the community and I’m very proud to be part of it.
His visit was more than a homecoming; it was a reminder that local heroes can inspire the next generation. The pupils left dreaming bigger, knowing someone from their neighbourhood could reach the top of the game, all while keeping their feet on the ground.
