Former Premier League manager and pundit Tim Sherwood has said that Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri could be a key player for the Gunners for years to come.
Nwaneri, 17, recently suffered a muscle injury during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton after he’d scored the opening goal in the game. He is expected to be out for the remainder of January.
However, he’s broken out into Mikel Arteta‘s first team this season, making 12 Premier League appearances with two goals so far this season.
The 17-year-old became the second-youngest player to score for the Gunners, when he netted for the first time in November. He also became the ninth-youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
Former Tottenham manager Sherwood believes that Nwaneri can be a key player for Arsenal in future title battles, and says that the emphasis on the 17-year-old is already stronger since Bukayo Saka’s recent injury.
He told Lucky Block: “Understandably, there’s now a big expectation around Ethan Nwaneri, even more so now Saka is out for a few months.
“He looks to be a player of great ability and someone that can change a game. Every time he’s come off the bench or started a game, he’s done a fantastic job and I’m convinced he will continue to do so if he’s given the chance. I was upset for him when I heard about his injury against Brighton.
“I have no worries for him though; he’s got his feet on the ground and already looks to be a top-drawer player. From what I’ve seen, he can have a real impact on the future of Arsenal.”
Nwaneri ahead of the career-curve of Arsenal starboy Saka
The comparisons between Nwaneri and Saka are no coincidence, as the England international made his debut for Arsenal, aged 17 in November 2018, when Arsene Wenger was still in charge at the Emirates.
The remarkable fact for Nwaneri, is that when he made his Arsenal debut, he was two years younger than Saka was when he first emerged onto the Premier League stage.
Nwaneri made his debut for the Gunners in September 2022 in a game against Brentford, and at such a young age, he made history as the youngest player to play in Premier League history.
