‘He plays a little bit like Jack Wilshere in His prime,He is a true definition of a hustler’: Mikel Arteta says 16-year-old Arsenal player is ‘unique’ and can become if more than Bernardo silva and Ødegaard in future
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given his verdict on Ethan Nwaneri.
Arteta has compared the 16-year-old to former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.
So, what has Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said about Ethan Nwaneri? Let’s take a look.
Mikel Arteta compares Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri to Jack Wilshere
Well, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been raving about Ethan Nwaneri. The Gunners boss has outlined what makes the 16-year-old so special.
Arteta has also compared Nwaneri to former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. Wilshere is now in charge of the Under-18 team at the North London club, although there is speculation that Dennis Bergkamp could potentially replace him.
Arteta told Arsenal’s official website about Nwaneri: “There’s something unique that he’s got that I really liked from the beginning, his 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. He’s got that bit between his teeth as well that he wants to show every single day how good he is and to impress people.
“When you have someone like that, you have to give him hope and as well it was a really important moment for us because we really wanted to keep him and I think it was a strange sign for him that this is his place for him to develop.”
Ethan Nwaneri needs to be carefully handled
In my view, Arsenal as a club need to handle Ethan Nwaneri carefully. I do not think that we should get carried away with the teenager.
Nwaneri is just 16 now. Yes, he has huge potential, but we must not forget that he is only a teenager. He is still developing as a footballer and as a person.
We have to be mindful of not putting too much pressure on Nwaneri. It is not healthy for any budding footballer to think that he has to meet undue expectations.
Nwaneri has already made his Premier League debut for Arsenal. The teenager could start for the Gunners against PSV in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Arsenal have a very young and vibrant team. The likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have established themselves in the starting lineup.
If Nwaneri continues to develop and progress in the coming years, then he could become a star in the Arsenal first team.
