Jamie Redknapp has highlighted why Ethan Nwaneri is similar to Bukayo Saka, after the Arsenal youngster scored a fine goal to give his side the lead against Brighton.
With Saka out until at least March following hamstring surgery, there has been speculation that the Gunners might dip into the transfer market for a right winger to sustain their Premier League title challenge.
But the answer might be right under Mikel Arteta’s nose, with Nwaneri putting in a serious of assured displays in the front line as he stands in for 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 via Mikel Merino.
On Saturday, he went one better, scoring the Gunners’ opener in a 1-1 draw at Brighton and now Sky Sports pundit Redknapp has compared the youngster to the very man he is replacing.
Jamie Redknapp has compared Ethan Nwaneri to Bukayo Saka after a goal against Brighton
The academy graduate is replacing the England international after he got a hamstring injury
Redknapp praised Nwaneri for his confidence and the way he cut inside on his left foot
The former Tottenham midfielder said: ‘We highlighted Merino because it’s a good piece of play – just because it’s intelligent. Declan Rice ends up in the wide area, plays a little one round the corner and then you get that third runner, Nwaneri.
‘And I was thinking to myself, “is he going to maybe play this one to Declan Rice?”. [Jan Paul] Van Hecke we feel probably could come out a little bit quicker, just to engage and stop the shot.
‘He’s got one thing on his mind. He thinks, “I’m going to get my shot away 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-esque the way he cuts in on that left foot and has the confidence to have the shot. Goalkeeper should do better but he will not care one bit.’
The composed strike, which was later cancelled out by a Joao Pedro penalty, also drew praise from fellow pundit Steve Sidwell, particularly for the assured finish.
‘It’s a really important goal,’ he said. ‘I mentioned before the game whether they have got enough guile in that midfield but the way Merino and Rice link up, they were certainly right there.
‘We picked him up didn’t we before the game? And a lot of threats have come down their right-hand side, Brighton’s left-hand side, and they work it really well.
‘It’s a good run from Merino there and then it’s about getting bodies in behind like we said before. Is there going to be a willing runner there to get in behind Brighton’s line?
The fine finish gave Arsenal the lead in the first half of their encounter with Brighton
Joao Pedro later restored parity for the Seagulls after slotting home a second-half spot kick
‘It’s a great finish. He’s got one thought in his mind, you can see when he’s going to go in there. He wants to get into the box. He has a quick glance at one point.’
In the week, Arteta was left more than satisfied with his academy graduate’s performance.
‘Really good (he played),’ 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’s an academy player and he needs to play because he deserves it.’
He later added: ‘Part of that development is patience, managing frustration, managing expectation because you expect that everything is going to go so fast as the previous things happens and it’s not the case.
‘So now we’re building him, he’s already played a lot of games, a lot of minutes for us, the age that he’s got and he fully deserves that.’
Nwaneri has become a fixture in the Arsenal team this season but, until Wednesday night, had to be satisfied with cameos off the bench.
Brentford holds fond memories for Nwaneri, who came off the bench at the Gtech in September 2022 to become the youngest-ever Premier League player aged 15 years and 181 days.
Mikel Arteta praised Nwaneri after the talent made his full debut for Arsenal this week
Nwaneri, 17, put in a fearless performance against Brentford, with Saka out injured
Arteta said Nwaneri played ‘really good’ and said he would feature even if they signed somebody else at right-wing
Last season Arsenal only handed him one other opportunity to shine but he has come into his own this campaign and is proving another gem of the Hale End academy.
He has proven his goal-scoring potential in the Carabao Cup, striking twice against Bolton in the third round and scoring a top-corner stunner in the next stage at Preston.
Sky Sports pundit Karen Carney was also effusive in her praise for Nwaneri after watching him shine against Thomas Frank’s side.
‘He’s brave, he’s bold, for someone so young, he jinks and drops a shoulder. Go and do what you want, be brave, be positive, take people on,’ she said.
‘He was key in the corner. For a young man he was outstanding, positive, a joy to watch, and I can’t believe how young he is.’
