Jamie Redknapp has highlighted why Ethan Nwaneri is similar to Bukayo Saka, after the Arsenal youngster scored a fine goal to give his team the lead against Brighton.
With Saka out until at least March following hamstring surgery, there has been speculation that the Gunners could turn to the transfer market for a right winger to sustain their Premier League title challenge.
But the answer could be right under Mikel Arteta’s nose, with Nwaneri putting in a series of assured displays in the front row as he replaces the England international.
The 17-year-old made his full Premier League debut in the 3-1 win against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday night.
He didn’t look out of place either, as he was confident on the ball and his corner led to Arsenal’s second goal through Mikel Merino.
He did even better on Saturday, scoring the Gunners’ first goal in a 1-1 draw at Brighton and now sky sports Expert Redknapp has compared the youngster to the man he replaces.
Jamie Redknapp compared Ethan Nwaneri to Bukayo Saka after goal against Brighton
The youth player replaces the English international after suffering a hamstring injury
Redknapp praised Nwaneri for his confidence and the way he cut inside with his left foot.
The former Tottenham midfielder said: “We highlight Merino because he is a good piece of play, simply because he is intelligent.” Declan Rice finishes in the wide area, plays a little corner turn and then the third runner, Nwaneri, arrives.
And I was thinking, “Maybe he’ll play this for Declan Rice?” (Jan Paul) We think Van Hecke could probably come out a little quicker, just to attack and stop the shot.
He has one thing on his mind. Think: “I’m going to shoot wide and get that goal.” I mean, Declan was certainly in a better position, but when you’re a player like him full of confidence…
“It was Saka style the way he cuts with his left foot and has the confidence to shoot.” The goalkeeper should do better, but he won’t care in the slightest.
The composed goal, which was later disallowed by a Joao Pedro penalty, also received praise from pundit Steve Sidwell, particularly for the assured finish.
“It’s a really important goal,” he said. “I mentioned before the game whether they had enough guile in that midfield, but the way Merino and Rice link up, they certainly were there.
‘We picked it up, didn’t we before the game? And a lot of threats have come from the right side, Brighton’s left side, and they handle it very well.
‘It’s a good Merino race and then it’s about getting the bodies to stay behind, as we said before. Will there be a runner willing to get behind the Brighton line?
The good finish gave Arsenal the lead in the first half of their meeting with Brighton.
Joao Pedro then restored parity for the Seagulls after scoring a penalty in the second half.
‘It’s a great ending. He has a thought in mind, you can see when he will get in there. He wants to get into the box. Take a quick look at one point.
In the week, Arteta was more than pleased with his academy graduate’s performance.
“He (played) very well,” Arteta told Sky Sports. ‘In training he gave us all the right reasons.
‘We could sign a player from any country (but) he would be playing. “He is a youth player and he needs to play because he deserves it.”
He later added: “Part of that development is patience, managing frustration, managing expectations because you expect everything to go as fast as previous things happen and that’s not the case.”
“So now we are building him, he has already played a lot of games, a lot of minutes for us, the age he is and he fully deserves it.”
Nwaneri has become a fixture for Arsenal this season but, until Wednesday night, had to make do with appearances from the bench.
Brentford has fond memories for Nwaneri, who came off the Gtech bench in September 2022 to become the youngest player in the Premier League at 15 years and 181 days.
Mikel Arteta praised Nwaneri after the talent made his full debut for Arsenal this week.
17-year-old Nwaneri put in a brave performance against Brentford, with Saka injured
Arteta said Nwaneri played “really well” and said he would feature even if they signed someone else on the right.
Last season, Arsenal only gave him another chance to shine, but this campaign he has bounced back and is proving to be another gem from Hale End’s academy.
He has shown his goalscoring potential in the Carabao Cup, scoring twice against Bolton in the third round and scoring a stunner in the top corner in the next round at Preston.
Sky Sports pundit Karen Carney also praised Nwaneri effusively after watching him shine against Thomas Frank’s side.
“He’s brave, he’s bold, for someone so young, he staggers and drops a shoulder.” “Go and do what you want, be brave, be positive, face people,” he said.
‘He was key in the corner. “For a young man, he was extraordinary, positive, it was a pleasure to see him and I can’t believe how young he is.”