Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri now has a place in the history books of England’s U21 side following a superb final against Germany at the Euros.
Ethan Nwaneri played 30 minutes in a 3-2 win for England against Germany, one that was secured with a winner in extra-time.
Arsenal’s Nwaneri was on the bench from the beginning and wasn’t introduced until the beginning of extra-time, but the 18-year-old still played a significant role.
Marseille’s Jonathan Rowe put England 3-2 ahead shortly after Nwaneri came onto the pitch, and the Arsenal youngster played with serious maturity in difficult circumstances.
Nwaneri was holding up the ball, being physical with Germany’s back line and also proving very effective in transition.
Ethan Nwaneri stars in Martin Odegaard’s role for England U21s
Nwaneri played several positions for England U21s at the tournament and manager Lee Carsley clearly has a lot of faith in the Arsenal youngster.
But perhaps it was telling that Nwaneri finally played his preferred number 10 role in the final, and the 18-year-old’s 30 minute cameo should have been excellent watching for Arteta.
Ethan Nwaneri duels with a German defender for England U21s.
Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images
READ MORE: Arsenal ‘making progress’ in £59m striker hunt, Mikel Arteta wants his new number nine before pre-season
With and without the ball, Nwaneri was playing in a very similar role to Martin Odegaard when he’s sitting alongside Kai Havertz for Arsenal’s first team.
Nwaneri was effectively playing as the second striker in a 4-4-2 for England, particularly when Carsley’s side didn’t have the ball.
And given that Nwaneri will compete with Odegaard for a first team role next season, it was seriously encouraging to see the youngster play with so much conviction.
Nwaneri is about to change position at Arsenal
So far in an Arsenal shirt, Nwaneri has made the bulk of his appearances as a right winger, mostly stepping in for Bukayo Saka when he was injured during the second half of last season.
But throughout Nwaneri’s time in the Hale End Academy he was a central player, a number 10 who even looked like a striker at times.
Ethan Nwaneri Games Goals Assists
Right winger 17 3 2
Attacking midfielder 12 5 0
Nwaneri’s apperance by position throughout the 2024/25 campaign for Arsenal (source: Transfermarkt).
And following a rest over the coming weeks, Nwaneri has proven that he is ready to compete with Odegaard, even if he is captaining Arteta’s side.
Nwaneri’s promising performances even prove that Arsenal can sell Fabio Vieira following his year on loan at FC Porto without too much hesitation.
Nwaneri praised Max Dowman in Arsenal’s academy recently and it’s clear that Arteta will have a heavy stream of talented number 10s coming through.