As Arsenal thrashed Bolton Wanderers 5-1 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, the performance of 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri stole the headlines.
The young midfielder became the youngest player to score two goals in a game for Arsenal since Arturo Lupoli achieved the feat against Everton in 2004.
But while Nwaneri’s career at Arsenal is just beginning, Lupoli’s trajectory offers a cautionary tale of how quickly promise can fade.
Lupoli’s rise and early days at Arsenal
Arturo Lupoli arrived at Arsenal in 2004 as one of the most exciting prospects in Italian football.
At Parma, he had been a prodigious goal-scorer, notching an incredible 45 goals in just 22 games at the under-17 level. Arsenal swooped in when Lupoli’s contract ended, beating off competition to sign the highly sought-after teenager.
The Italian forward made an immediate impact at Arsenal, linking up with Nicklas Bendtner to form a formidable partnership in the youth ranks. His performances earned him a place in the first team, where he made his senior debut against Manchester City in the League Cup at just 17 years old.
It was the same game in which a young Robin van Persie scored his first goal for the Gunners, and Lupoli set him up for the match-winner.
His finest moment came in November 2004, when he scored twice against Everton in the League Cup at just 17 years and 138 days old.
That night, Lupoli showcased his poacher’s instinct and natural finishing ability, prompting Arsenal fans to believe they had unearthed the next big talent.
Frustration and departure
Despite a promising start, Lupoli’s opportunities at Arsenal became increasingly limited.
With Thierry Henry, Jose Antonio Reyes, and Dennis Bergkamp ahead of him in the pecking order, breaking into the first team proved a daunting task. Even after Henry and Reyes departed a year later, Lupoli saw his path blocked by new arrivals.
Recognising his stalling development, Lupoli sought a move to gain more game time. He went on loan to Derby County for the 2006-07 season, where he netted seven goals in 35 appearances but failed to replicate his prolific scoring from his youth days.
Despite his performances at Derby, Lupoli felt his future lay elsewhere and turned down Arsenal’s offer of a new contract.
In 2007, he signed a five-year deal with Fiorentina, believing a return to Italy would reignite his career.
However, his time in Florence was even less fruitful than at Arsenal, managing just 45 minutes in a single Coppa Italia match before being loaned out multiple times to clubs like Treviso and Norwich City.
The journeyman years
After Fiorentina, Lupoli’s career spiralled into a succession of short-term stints across the lower leagues of Italy and beyond.
By the end of his playing days, he had represented a staggering 24 teams, making just 438 appearances and scoring 90 goals, with 19 assist – modest numbers for a player once touted as a future star.
He eventually hung up his boots in 2022, ending his playing career with little fanfare.
Reflecting on his journey, Lupoli admits his choices contributed to his downfall.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said, “External pressures led me to choose Fiorentina, making me look bad with Napoli to whom I had given my word. I was rewarded from an economic point of view, but sunk from a technical one. The following year, nobody wanted me. I had ended up in oblivion.”
A return to where it all began
Despite his unfulfilled playing career, Lupoli never lost his love for the game.
After retiring, he began working as a technical collaborator with Monza’s Under-18s, allowing him to share his experience with younger players. Last year, he returned to his roots, taking on a coaching role with Parma’s Under-18 team.
Promoted to head coach of the u18s this summer, Lupoli is now looking to impart the lessons of his journey to the next generation.
Completing his UEFA A licence at Coverciano, Lupoli is determined to succeed in management. His return to Parma, the club where he first made his name, is a full-circle moment and an opportunity to carve out a different legacy in football.
Lessons for Ethan Nwaneri
As Nwaneri continues to make strides at Arsenal, the story of Arturo Lupoli serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of football careers. Talent alone is rarely enough to guarantee success, and patience, guidance, and the right environment are often crucial in a young player’s development.
For Lupoli, leaving Arsenal at a young age in search of more opportunities ultimately backfired. He candidly admitted, “But in the end, I don’t blame anybody except myself. What happened is mostly my fault: I didn’t have the strength to impose myself and come back to a higher league.”
The path ahead
Who knows how far Nwaneri will go? His brace against Bolton suggests he has the potential to be a star. But if he’s to avoid the pitfalls that befell Lupoli, staying grounded, seizing his opportunities, and learning from those around him – particularly Arsenal’s experienced coaching staff – will be vital.
Ultimately, while Nwaneri has a long way to go, he can take inspiration from Lupoli’s successes and learn from his missteps.
Patience is key.