Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri will now be hoping to inspire an upturn in form for England as they advance to the knockout stages of the U21 Championships.
England lost to Germany U21s on Wednesday evening but still qualified for the last eight, and Ethan Nwaneri and co will now face Spain on Saturday.
So far in the tournament Nwaneri has started two of England’s three games, and he has been seriously effective whenever he’s been on the pitch.
Manager Lee Carsley tried Nwaneri in a new position during their 0-0 draw with Slovenia, but wherever the Arsenal youngster plays, he seems to deliver.
But in a narrow defeat to Germany, it was actually a former Arsenal player who outshone Nwaneri, even if the 18-year-old was also very impressive.
Former Arsenal player Brooke Norton-Cuffy excels for England U21s
Last summer, Arsenal decided to sell Brooke Norton-Cuffy to Genoa for a fee of around £2m.
The 21-year-old was long revered as one of the more promising players to emerge from Arsenal’s Hale End academy, but the club ultimately decided to let him go.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy during England U21 training.
Photo by Alex Livesey – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
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Norton-Cuffy played 14 matches in Serie A last season, explaining why he earned a spot in the England U21 squad this summer.
And judging by Norton-Cuffy’s impact as a second half substitute against Germany, Arsenal might have let a good one go too early.
GiveMeSport provided their player ratings for England on the final whistle after the 2-1 defeat to Germany.
And although Nwaneri earned a 7/10 rating, it was Norton-Cuffy who stole the show with an 8/10 performance, one full of ‘pace and power’ from the bench.
Nwaneri was a constant threat for England on his own, but it was Norton-Cuffy who ‘completely changed the game’.
Arsenal sold Brooke Norton-Cuffy far too cheaply
Of course, on Norton-Cuffy’s side of his Arsenal exit, the defender is unlikely to have too many regrets.
He’s now building a career in Italy and he’s getting recognition at an international level.
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But perhaps Arsenal should have attempted to provide the 21-year-old with a better first team path themselves, a defender who’s also able to operate as a wing-back.
The Gunners do have Ben White and Jurrien Timber on their books, but Norton-Cuffy could definitely provide a different type of threat if given the chance.
Either way, Arsenal’s £2m deal now looks pretty good value for Genoa, and it perhaps highlights that the Gunners haven’t been too astute when it comes to player sales of late.
But Arsenal fans will be delighted to see Norton-Cuffy thriving regardless, a Hale End graduate with an exciting future ahead.