Arsenal’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League was marked by a significant milestone as Nathan Butler-Oyedeji became the club’s 913th player to feature for the first team.
The 22-year-old Nigeria-eligible star finally got his opportunity after years of dedication and persistence, Footballrover reports.
Butler-Oyedeji’s long-awaited Arsenal first-team debut
With Arsenal comfortably leading at the Emirates Stadium, manager Mikel Arteta introduced Butler-Oyedeji in second-half stoppage time, replacing Gabriel Martinelli.
This appearance came after the forward had been named in the matchday squad on eleven previous occasions across three competitions—four in the Champions League, five in the Premier League, and two in the FA Cup—without making his official debut.
His breakthrough was a result of his standout performances for Arsenal’s development squad, where he earned the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for August 2024.
The talented attacker has been in exceptional form, contributing 14 goal involvements (8 goals and 6 assists) since the start of the 2024-2025 season.
Butler-Oyedeji’s inclusion makes him the fourth Nigeria-eligible player to debut under Arteta, following Ethan Nwaneri, Miguel Azeez, and Josh Nichols.
Having joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight, his first-team appearance was 14 years in the making.
A debut influenced by Arsenal’s injury woes
While Butler-Oyedeji’s talent is undeniable, injuries to key attacking players seem to have accelerated his promotion to the senior squad.
His previous loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town provided valuable experience that helped prepare him for this moment.
Arsenal dominated the contest, with Declan Rice opening the scoring in the second minute, followed by Kai Havertz’s header in the 66th minute, and Martin Ødegaard sealing the victory in added time.
As Butler-Oyedeji finally stepped onto the pitch, he marked his place in the club’s history books as Arsenal’s 913th player to debut for the first team—a long-awaited achievement for the Nigeria-eligible star.
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