WHILE others have been on the beach this summer, Ethan Nwaneri has been keeping in shape with England Beach Soccer star Aaron Clarke.
Gunners academy graduate Nwaneri, 18, is close to signing a new bumper first-team contract as he commits his future to the club amid interest from Chelsea and other big European sides.
After a breakthrough campaign last term, starting 16 games in all competitions and scoring nine goals, England U21 midfielder Nwaneri views this upcoming season as a chance to fully cement himself in the long-term plans of boss Mikel Arteta.
There is also the opportunity to force himself into England manager Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad next summer.
That means he has not taken his foot off the pedal during this pre-season.
Following a short break after helping Lee Carsley’s England U21s win the Euros in Slovakia, Nwaneri was straight back to work with some warm-weather training alongside Clarke.
Clarke, 34, has been an Arsenal academy coach since July 2011, which is where he developed a relationship with Nwaneri as he rose through the Hale End ranks from the age of nine.
He combines that with representing England’s Beach Soccer team and acting as an ambassador, making over 100 appearances for the side since March 2013. As of November 2024, he had scored 200 goals for the side.
Clarke remains a key cog in Arsenal’s youth development team, recently involved in a talent search program at the club after nurturing some of their most successful grads.
Speaking in September 2023, Clarke explained: “I have worked with the U9s and now I am working with the U16s, the guys who are turning professional.
“I have watched some of the kids like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe go from nine and 10-year-olds into the first team.
“It allows me to make better decisions because I have seen them for 10 or 11 years.
“Something I would have said back then, I have much better experience in telling the next generation of what I think is best.”
Nwaneri – as well as Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey – was pictured alongside Clarke this summer on Instagram via Electi Training, a high-performance programme for elite football players both in-season and off-season, ahead of joining up with Arsenal for their pre-season camp in Spain and then Singapore and Hong Kong.
Fulham centre back Calvin Bassey has also spent time with Electi Training and Clarke recently.
Clarke is a LifeChange personal trainer, educating clients on active and healthy lifestyles, as well as mental training to “improve energy, confidence and positivity”.
And in a video during some mid-season work with Clarke, Nwaneri was full of praise of his influence on his growth and development.
Nwaneri said: “I want to improve. For example, my power which I have been working on, stretching and mobility as well. That definitely helps with injury prevention.
“The core exercises we do, that also tests the mind as well. You’ve got Aaron there who is always testing me and he gives you scenarios to help you.
“It gives you the edge on the pitch.”
After playing academy football, Clarke was invited to a beach soccer trial in Bournemouth as a 20-year-old. After just six months, he earned his England debut.
He has since played abroad for the likes of Barcelona, Malaga and Valencia – having learned to play on sand on school sandpits and volleyball pitches in London.
Clarke believes more players should train on sand, and hopes to persuade Arsenal’s academy to integrate sand training into their curriculum.
He said: “The issue is the facilities in England. Arsenal are not going to travel one or two hours down to the coast, but now, the coaches are much more open to trying beach football.
“Especially with the younger ages, because they feel that it gives them a better football player. My next challenge is to find a facility to bring the kids there, and they would love it.
“The benefits are definitely there. Running on sand is much more demanding on the body, for rehab or for pre-season, and definitely improves their fitness levels and their physicality.
“Players who play beach football are technically better than football players. Going from sand to grass, it would make it a lot easier.”
Read the full article here