Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri just helped England reach the semi-finals of the U21 Championships owing to a 3-1 win over Spain.
Ethan Nwaneri was on the bench when England’s quarter-final kicked off in Slovakia on Sunday evening, but the Arsenal youngster was then introduced as a second half substitute.
Nwaneri started for England in the previous two matches at the tournament, but after defeat against Germany, U21s manager Lee Carsley decided to shuffle his pack.
And along with the likes of Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson, the Arsenal 18-year-old had to make do with a watching brief to begin with.
But following Nwaneri playing in a new position against Slovenia in the group stage of the tournament, Carsley also deployed the Hale End graduate in a surprise role on Sunday.
Ethan Nwaneri played as a striker for England U21s
In the 81st minute, when England were 2-1 up, Carsley trusted Nwaneri to come up as a striker in place of Birmingham City’s Jay Stansfield.
And whilst Nwaneri has operated as a striker at youth level for Arsenal, it’s not something he’s often done as a professional.
Rather than being used as a number nine, it would seem as if Arsenal plan to use Nwaneri as a number 10, someone intended to compete with Martin Odegaard in time.
But at the Euros with England, Nwaneri hasn’t really spent a minute playing in that role.
Ethan Nwaneri duels with a Spain defender for England U21s.
Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images
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Of course, Nwaneri’s best position has already been hotly debated by Arsenal fans, hence why Ian Wright recently waded in on the debate.
Speaking in March on the ‘Wrighty’s House’ podcast, Wright was convinced that Nwaneri shouldn’t play as a striker, explaining why he might have been frustrated by Sunday’s events.
Wright said: “Ethan could play, I think he could play anywhere up there. I wouldn’t put him as a nine.
“They say he’s played as a nine in the youth team. But I wouldn’t put him in a nine, but I’d put him anywhere around there.”
Martin Odegaard will be under pressure from Ethan Nwaneri next season
Wright will obviously be happy to see Nwaneri getting chances for England at any level, but he’s spot on when it comes to the 18-year-old playing as a striker.
Once he returns to Arsenal for next season, Nwaneri should be pushing both Bukayo Saka and Odegaard for a role in the first eleven, a role that should please Mikel Arteta.
Arteta seemed really keen to take Nwaneri out of the team and spotlight towards the end of last season, recognising that the youngster had a lot on his plate already.
And given that Arsenal are interested in Noni Madueke from Chelsea, perhaps the plan is for Nwaneri to take a slight step back whilst he develops.
It’s a healthy situation for Arsenal to have so many talented youngsters rising from the Hale End academy.
And whilst on the topic, Nwaneri named Arsenal’s best youngster recently, a player fans in N5 can definitely get excited about.