Ziiiip
Nwanners!
Love how Nwaneri looks cool and mature, whilst Mertesacker looks like an over excited 17 year old kid signing his first pro contract.
This kid is special.
Would love to see him get some game time next season in the cups. There’s nothing quite like seeing a youngster break through into the first team.
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daredevil big moment for Mertesacker to be fair. First academy talent that he can legitimately lay some claim too.
6 months later
He’s so so good.
Starting to see development physically too. Will be mad good when he has that man burst
Had a few difficult passes fizzed at him that he controlled easily that made me take notice. Looks to have the kind of personality to constantly demand the ball, so hopefully he won't be the sort of player that lets the game pass him by (that was a big part of Vieira's problem).
that first touch and tight sharp dribbling style actually reminds me of Nelson when he broke through
He was great but MLS actually impressed me more.
Ethan and MLS are effectively like two new signings this season.
Nelson is technically excellent. He just lacks cojones.
It's a huge win for the academy to be producing players like Saka and Nwaneri every few yrs. Plus players like ESR, Nketiah, MLS who can provide quality squad depth or return significant transfer fees.
Not obvious to me that MLS is any less of a prospect than Nwaneri is.
He’s an excellent prospect too but Nwaneri’s game intelligence is off the scale
Nwaneri's understanding of space is incredible for his age. Every time he passed the ball he was moving to an area where he could receive it again in space or dragging defenders away. Watching him with Saka was beautiful - you could imagine with a little more experience and seasoning how effective he would be in pulling away the double teams that Saka always faces or profiting from that extra attention and finding himself alone in dangerous spots due to it. I love how he also has the same quality that Saliba has in that his emotions betray nothing - he's a blank slate while he's playing and a complete professional. It makes it seem like nothing phases him and that may be the truth. I would love to see him get some big minutes in these upcoming games (other than PSG). Personally, I'd love to see him start against Leicester with Rice and Jorginho in the midfield and Havertz up top. We will need players who can break them down without Odegaard in the team and Jorginho can hit runners when Nwaneri and Havertz find pockets of space. I doubt Arteta would put him in the starting XI after just playing yesterday but he clearly belongs and will be there sooner rather than later.
Nwaneri has massive power too. He’s quick and bull like - could see the momentum he had when scoring his first goal.
As well as using space so well he’s able to disguise passes brilliantly often with a smothering brush of the ball. I honestly think he’s the biggest talent to ever come through our youth set up
That’s a huge statement when Wilshere was bossing football legends Xavi and Ineista at 18 or when Cesc was scoring in CL quarter finals at 18 or running the show at Bernabau at the same age.
Let’s see what Nwareni can do in the cup games and odd mins off the bench first.
Yesterday was a good starting point.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 it sure is. Also keeping in mind Saka too who has been nothing short of fantastic for us.
Nwaneri though looks like he can be an undoubted talisman for club and country
DiabyKungFu Not obvious to me that MLS is any less of a prospect than Nwaneri is.
Doesn't really matter who's better at their age: main things for me are that both are exceptional, we appear to be giving them some chances this season, and also the senior players seem to be actively mentoring and looking after them. The culture we've got in the squad should really help them.
He seems to have that instinctive understanding of where space is, which combined with his touch which seems good, makes the game look easy. Weighs passes well, looks composed in front of goal and will probably be quick and strong. Exciting talent.
Was a good match, one aspect which I think he will hopefully develop in is the decision making. His second goal the keeper had come so far over to him that I think he should have slipped it wide to our players waiting for pretty much an empty net. I get it he's probably just wanting to make the most of his chance in such a game and he scored even if it was a bit of a keeper error. But that decision making is what separates good players from those higher quality.
Again I can understand why in the circumstances he did that but you have to be able to refuse an outcome for you to help the team. I think Arteta even referred to the fact it's good it went in as his team mates might have had something to say
Anyway a minor thing in this context and hopefully something he will be able to demonstrate over time.
I have to say, I didn't see anything in that match for us to rave on Ethan yet. Not exactly Wilshere regen (though I hear Dowman in the academy is exactly that).
However, he's a super tidy and intelligent player with real calmness about his game. I think he should be starting matches in the PL when we can.
He’s beyond ready
Amazing player.
incredible. i like the way we are bringing him through and seeing more and more of him.
again, on this point of Arteta not trusting youth - we haven't seen a youth player like this since Saka and co broke through. the 360 turn in the box, the 20 yard shot, making himself available for the ball. this guy is already more useful than Nelson and Vieira.
Might have to mail you a steak in the post if he keeps getting minutes off the bench @Claudius
Big Willie in the meantime I will feast on Nwanners' displays.
He will be starting many matches BW, he is Wilshere/Cesc level of talent. The way he took the game when he came on today was insane.
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Looks ready for 20 mins at the end of games.
they main thing about Nwaneri is he looks like a contributor, not a project. he is able to come on in big games and situations with high stakes, and be an important player
Xcdude24 reminded me of early wilshere in terms of his impact today
Can't believe Wishere is old enough to have been making his mark on the youth teams around the time this kid was born. Madness.
Kid came on in a tight game against spurs and when we needed a goal against Leicester. He’s not getting 5 mins at 3-0 up.
Ive no doubt he will be the best attacking midfielder in the world in a few years.
His passing is other worldly - uses side and degrees of back spin to absolute perfection