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17-year-old Arsenal youngster seriously impressed in 2-1 friendly win over Manchester United
Although the game was played at a relatively slow pace, Arsenal delivered an impressive victory against Manchester United in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Mikel Arteta welcomed back a few more of his internationals who represented their country over the summer, the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinell and Kai Havertz.
In terms of Arteta’s starting eleven, it was interesting to see that Jurrien Timber started at right centre-back once again, proving his readiness to deputise for William Saliba.
Elsewhere, Leandro Trossard started on the left with Gabriel Jesus through the middle and Reiss Nelson on the right.
But as is often the case in such pre-season outings, the focus was on Arsenal’s youngsters who were handed a chance to impress.
Both Ayden Heaven and Ethan Nwaneri kept their starting roles from the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth a few days earlier.
And although Heaven endured a difficult evening against Rasmus Hojlund, Nwaneri was arguably Arsenal’s brightest performer.
17-year-old Nwaneri started as Arsenal left-sided number eight, a position which is arguably still vacant since Granit Xhaka’s departure a year ago.
Ethan Nwaneri delivers stand-out performance for Arsenal in Man United win
To solve the issue, it seems as if Arsenal will try and sign Mikel Merino this summer, a versatile midfielder who impressed at the Euros.
But judging by Nwaneri’s showing, Arsenal could perhaps just promote from within, turning to their rich Hale End talent.
Arsenal journalist Kaya Kaynak, who is in the United States reporting for , was seriously impressed with Nwaneri’s showing.
Kaynak said he ‘looks at home’ in the Arsenal first-team, a player who is clearly going up in Arteta’s estimations with every minute he plays.
The journalist handed the youngster an 8/10 for his showing – the highest rating of any player and commended his link up play.
Kaynak wrote: “Looks at home in the first team set up. Links with his teammates well and grabbed an assist even if there was a hint of offside. Could have scored one himself too. 8.”
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Of course, in a summer in which Amario Cozier-Duberry is thriving since leaving Arsenal – a youngster the club didn’t want to lose.
It’s redeeming that Nwaneri is still an Arsenal player with a long-term contract and a first-team path emerging.
An excellent prospect, one that could be Arsenal’s very own David Silva – a youngster with a magic left foot.