Phenomenal Ethan Nwaneri like Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal – Arsenal’s wonderkid can deliver on biggest stage

Ethan Nwaneri has been named amongst the greatest young players of today alongside Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal.

The 17-year-old has been a revelation for Arsenal this season and will again cause problems for PSV, who travel to the Emirates on Wednesday after their 7-1 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League last-16.

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Nwaneri’s talent was on full display in the Netherlands for the Gunners’ Champions League round of 16 first leg.

He scored the second goal in the 21st minute as he ghosted into the box with a powerful shot into the roof of the net, assisted by his fellow teenage teammate Miles Lewis-Skelly.

Bukayo Saka has missed months of football due to a torn hamstring but teams still fear what manager Mikel Arteta has at his disposal on the right wing.

The only big question that remains is how Arteta is going to fit them both into the same side once he returns.

“He is a phenomenal young player,” European football commentator Kevin Hatchard told talkSPORT on the Trans Euro Express show.

He placed Nwaneri amongst the best players under 23, which puts him in the same elite category as Bellingham, Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal.

“They are all guys who look like they’ve done it for 15 years and he’s absolutely one of them.” 

He added: “They don’t play with fear, they don’t play with any trepidation whatsoever. They absolutely grasp the opportunity.”

Arsenal’s biggest Champions League win came after a lacklustre 0-0 draw to Nottingham Forest as their struggles in front of goal continued.

It seems like Arsenal have a habit of unleashing their frustration in Europe and Nwaneri certainly is part of that.

If PSV manager Petr Bosz dares to go guns blazing in an attempt to claw back the huge deficit Nwaneri will be presented with an opportunity to add more goals and assists to his tally.

The youngster will also be helped by the return of Gabriel Martinelli – another attacking threat that reduces Nwaneri’s burden.

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The 17-year-old has chipped in with eight goals and one assist from 27 games in all competitions.

Nwaneri has impressed so much, news outlets have questioned whether an England call up by Thomas Tuchel is on the cards.  

talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham went so far as to say it is a ‘sackable offence’ not to pick the teenager in his first England squad, which will be named on Friday.

He said: “He is so good, and Arteta I think has alluded to his belief that Nwaneri can play in the middle, but maybe that’s to come.

“I think it’s a sackable offence if Thomas Tuchel doesn’t put him in the England squad, right?” he said.

The youngster has represented his country from the Under 16s to 19s but the senior squad will give him the platform to cement his greatness.

Think of Bellingham’s overhead kick against Slovakia or Yamal’s sumptuous curling shot against France.

Musiala and Wirtz were key in leading Germany to the Euros quarter-finals.

Pedri was integral to Spain’s midfield until he suffered an injury that summer.

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Speaking about Nwaneri after his winner against Girona, Arteta said: “That’s what we love about him. He’s very aggressive.

“He never (looks nervous), he’s so composed, calm and confident in his ability.”

The quarter-final may be Arsenal’s biggest test of the season as either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid await.

Nwaneri may be subjected to heavy defensive work against Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe or he will have to face the deep block of Diego Simeone.

Speaking on that 7-1 victory to put them in sight of the next round, Arteta said: “It is unique but we understand the game went in the right direction for us from the beginning.

“We need to earn the right for the match to go in the same direction, we are fully focused for that.

“It’s a competition that we have a lot of enthusiasm for. We have been very consistent and tomorrow can put us in exciting position.”