Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri scores for England u17s
17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri was again in the spotlight for England’s U17s squad last night as he scored his second goal of the U17s European Championship group stage where England currently sit second in the group behind Portugal in there hopes to go through to the next stage of the competition.
After scoring a goal again France, Arsenal academy product Ethan Nwaneri lit the stage alight again when he sealed England’s 3-1 win over Spain last night. In the 86th minute England’s Divine Mukasa won the ball back in the middle of the pitch and dribbled the ball through the middle and spotted the run of Nwaneri on his left-hand side, slipping the perfect through ball into his feet. Nwaneri took a quick look up and placed the ball past the Spanish keeper making it look easy and put the cherry on top of the cake for England and sealed the second spot of the group.
Nwaneri only played one game for Arsenal this season against West Ham when Arteta decided to bring the young gun onto the pitch with 15 minutes to play and although he didn’t play for long, got right into the game and ended the game with 20 touches and an 83% pass accuracy and looked confident when he was on the pitch.
Nwaneri has been a massive asset for our U21 team this season, bagging a massive 11 goals and 2 assists in the Premier League division 2 at just 17-years-old and has been making headlines since. Being so young, he could spend another year or so in the academy building but with the level of quality he has been showing, It wouldn’t surprise me if Arteta brought him through to the senior squad next season, but is he ready?
Personally, I’ll always stick by the “if they’re good enough, they’re old enough” saying, but having him as a left winger will be hard for him to break through when we have the likes of Martinelli and Trossard, so is it best he goes on loan for at least a season? I think so.
It’s not that I don’t think he could break into the senior squad, because when I’ve watched him play, it seems effortless, but the Premier League is a tough competition and he’s still very young and small and a season in the championship, or even at a club that’s just coming up from the championship, would probably be the best idea for him and his future.
Either way, we have a bright young talent coming through and I can’t see the club letting him go permanently after how well he has played in the past year. I guess it all depends on Arteta and what his plans are next, but I for one can’t wait to see him break into the first team and shine like he has been doing.
What’s your thoughts Gooners?
Daisy Mae
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As Trossard gets older and his contract winds down, Nwaneri is the perfect replacement to add to the first team.
We have some talented players coming out of the academy and we need to promote some going forward.
Not everyone will make it, but some can certainly fill depth and periphery roles in the squad.
For example; Elneny and Cedric took up space and wages when Patino and Walters could have had those spots and gotten training and developed further.
We can’t continue spending every time there is a problem. That’s how we underuse ESR and waste money on a 34 million flop like Vieira.
I think nwaneri will end up playing centrally, but if he can also play left wing, it could be a great way to bring him through without exposing him too much at the beginning. Hope to see a lot more of him next season.
The youngsters who scored 10 goals in a game should be gi en some exposure to 1st team…and maybe in Cup squads esp League Cup
Neil, do you mean Chido Obi-Martin, who scored 7 goals in 1 game ?
That’s the one.. thanks
He’s 16. No need to rush him into the senior team, let him grow and get experience in the U21’s first.
His goal was a tap in. He’s shown some good touches in the games I’ve watched, but doesn’t look defensively gifted or able to apply a high press yet.
Remember when we got excited about Azeez? Well he’s now in semi professional obscurity. Let’s see how Nwaneri develops.
Another player that shouldn’t be rushed into the 1st team. Bring him through gradually so that his body can continue to grow properly. One has to remember what happened to the likes of Michael Owen at Liverpool and our own Jack Wilshere to see how their careers were hampered by playing too many games before their bodies had fully grown.
He’s a good player and strong.