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Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard has tipped Arsenal youth team coach Jack Wilshere to guide record breaker Ethan Nwaneri accordingly.
THE LOWDOWN: THE EMERGENCE
Fans of Arsenal and the Premier League knew nothing about Ethan Nwaneri prior to this season. He wasn’t even listed as part of the first team when the season began by Mikel Arteta.
However, injuries to multiple first-team players created a vacuum in the first team and Arteta used the opportunity to look for immediate options in the youth teams.
The gaffer, who would later confirm that the youngster was recommended to him, listed a 15-year-old Nwaneri in the Arsenal squad for the game at Brentford. Being in the squad is a thing and getting to play is even much greater.
Arteta sent the kid on in stoppage time and the academy graduate broke all manner of records by doing so. Martin Odegaard is full of praise for the youth team coach for his influence on the lad.
THE LATEST: INFLUENCE APPRECIATED
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard believes Premier League record-breaker Ethan Nwaneri is with the perfect coach – Jack Wilshere – who can aid his development at Arsenal.
The 15-year-old became the youngest player in Premier League history when he made a cameo appearance in the 3-0 win over Brentford before the international break.
The midfielder is currently working with Wilshere in the Under-18 set-up in north London, someone who was also at a similar age when he got his breakthrough.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old skipper has some words of advice for Nwaneri and believes Wilshere has the right attributes to guide his development at this stage.
“At the end of that Brentford game Ethan Nwaneri came on and became our youngest ever player aged 15,” said Odegaard.
“It’s similar to my story in a way, because I was about the same age when I made my professional debut.”
“The big difference though is that I was doing it at a Norwegian club and Ethan is at Arsenal! But then I went to Madrid and played there at the age of 16, so it’s a bit similar. What I think is important now is to not put extra pressure on Ethan by speaking about him too much.”
“We should just give him time to keep on developing his game. Obviously, he’s got lots of talent and I’m sure he can make a big future for himself, but we need to give him space and time to carry on working without pressure.”
“He needs to keep on playing, keep enjoying his football, keep working hard and then you will get what you deserve. For me that’s the most important thing to tell him – keep working hard, keep pushing hard every day, stay humble and then your talent will be rewarded.”
“He has lots of people around him to help him with his journey – and nobody will know better than his under-18 coach Jack Wilshere, because he was in that position at Arsenal too.”
“I’m sure he’s in great hands and he will keep on working now, but he should be proud of making his debut too.”
THE VERDICT: TIME TO DEVELOP
Ethan has made it to the big stage but he needs to develop now. Arteta might have plans for him in the cup games, but he needs to be guided cautiously in order for him to really grow on the right path.
