BREAKING NEWS:Live from the Emirates, Arteta and Arsenal legend Ian Wright have quickly praised a young player following an impressive display against Manchester United. Wright commended the 16-year-old for his performance in a friendly where Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory at SoFi Stadium in California. The youngster played the first half, successfully completing 17 out of 19 passes, creating a significant chance, and providing an assist. He also won all four of his duels and completed a successful dribble attempt. Wright expressed his astonishment, stating the player is “better than Phil Foden and Mason Mount.”

Arsenal supporters have been full of praise for Ethan Nwaneri following his outstanding display in a friendly match against Manchester United on Saturday, July 27. The 16-year-old talent played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory at the SoFi Stadium in California, garnering widespread acclaim on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Pre-Season Progress

As part of their pre-season tour in the United States, Arsenal has been making notable progress. After a penalty shootout win over Bournemouth, the Gunners faced Manchester United on Saturday. Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring in the 10th minute, but Arsenal responded with goals from Gabriel Jesus in the 26th minute and Gabriel Martinelli in the 81st minute, securing a comeback win.

Nwaneri’s Impressive Performance

Ethan Nwaneri’s performance was a standout in the match. Playing the first half, he completed 17 of his 19 passes, created a significant scoring opportunity, and provided an assist. Defensively, Nwaneri was equally impressive, winning all four of his duels and completing a successful dribble attempt.

Arsenal fans took to X to celebrate Nwaneri’s performance. One fan compared him to established stars like Mason Mount and Phil Foden, saying, “Ethan Nwaneri is better than Phil Foden. Mason Mount, too.” Another fan likened Nwaneri to Manchester City legend David Silva, noting, “Nwaneri is Arsenal’s David Silva. Magic left foot. Can excel in either interior. Should be having himself a successful decade-plus career.”

The excitement surrounding Nwaneri was palpable, with fans expressing their enthusiasm with comments like, “Wow wow wow,” and predictions about his future: “Nwaneri is legit gonna be in real contention to start the opening PL game btw,” and “He’s ready.” One supporter even compared Nwaneri to Liverpool’s Trey Nyoni, stating, “Trey Nyoni *handshake emoji* Ethan Nwaneri. Starboys.”

Mikel Arteta’s Thoughts

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also praised Nwaneri’s performance against Manchester United. Speaking after the match, Arteta emphasized the importance of players showcasing their potential: “It’s always in the hands of the players, so show what you can do. Show that ambition, that determination, that quality, and things will happen naturally.

Tomorrow he’s going to train with us again and if he continues to play like that, he’s going to play some minutes on Wednesday for sure.”

Nwaneri’s journey with Arsenal has been remarkable. He made his senior debut in September 2022 during a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, becoming the youngest player to do so at just 15 years old.

His international form has also been impressive, with three goals for England U17 in the UEFA U17 Euro in May, helping the team reach the quarter-finals.

As Arsenal continues their pre-season campaign, with a friendly against Liverpool on July 31, all eyes will be on Nwaneri to see if he can maintain his excellent form and secure a more permanent role in the team.