‘A little bit like Jack Wilshere’ – Arteta likens Nwaneri to Arsenal icon ahead of possible UCL debut

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reserved special praise for Ethan Nwaneri in his pre-match press conference before his side’s UEFA Champions League meeting with PSV Eindhoven, stating that the Hale End Academy product can be likened to Gunners icon Jack Wilshere. 

The England U17 international of Nigerian descent has been named in Arsenal’s traveling squad for the matchday six fixture at the Philips Stadion (Eindhoven) on Tuesday evening.

If Nwaneri features against the Dutch Eredivisie side, he would become the youngest player to represent Arsenal in European competition aged 16 years and 266 days. 

The Anglo-Nigerian attacking midfielder has played just one minute for Arsenal’s first team, against Brentford on September 18, 2022 when he became the youngest player in history to debut in the Premier League. 

Nwaneri continues to impress for Arsenal’s development squad with six goal involvements in six games and showed beyond doubt that U18s football is too easy for him after notching five goals in the FA Youth Cup win over Crewe at the weekend.

Arteta has compared the left-footed Nwaneri to Arsenal U18 boss Wilshere due to his playing style. 

“There’s something unique that he’s got that I really liked from the beginning,” Arteta was quoted as saying by Arsenal’s official website.

“He has the ability to take the ball in tight areas and to escape a little bit like Jack Wilshere used to do. 

“The personality he has, he trains with us like he trains with the under-18s or under-16s and I love that in a player.”

Nwaneri, who is in the first year of his scholarship at Arsenal and expected to go pro in March 2024, was not utilized off the bench against Lens on November 29.

Igho Kingsley 

Photo Credit: arsenal.com

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