rewrite this title Ethan Nwaneri on cusp of breaking Kylian Mbappe’s Champions League record

Ethan Nwaneri could become the youngest player in Champions League history to score in three consecutive games if he finds the back of the net in Arsenal’s last 16 second leg against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.

Nwaneri, who does not turn 18 until March 21, is enjoying an electric run in Arsenal’s starting lineup following injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, racking up eight goals in 28 games across all competitions this season.

Two of those goals have come in each of Arsenal’s last two Champions League games – the final group match against Girona and the 7-1 thumping of PSV in last week’s first leg – and one more goal on Wednesday would see Nwaneri etch his name into the competition’s history books.

If Nwaneri manages to score in a third straight Champions League game, he will break Kylian Mbappe’s record for doing so. The Frenchman was 18 years and 113 days old when he first scored three in a row on the books at Monaco in the 2016/17 season.

Nwaneri will be 17 years and 349 days old on Wednesday and so, not only would he break Mbappe’s record, but the Arsenal youngster would become the first player to score in three consecutive games in the Champions League before their 18th birthday.

Arsenal also have their sights on a wider team goal as they seek to become just the second English side to register ten goals across a Champions League knockout tie since Manchester City against Schalke in 2018/19.

With their spot in the quarter-finals effectively secure already, manager Mikel Arteta is expected to hand rests out to a number of his key players. Nwaneri is among the candidates for a spot on the bench but Arsenal’s ongoing injury struggles in attack could see the teenager retain his place in the starting lineup in search of a famous record.

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