Theo Walcott has backed Ethan Nwaneri to have a “very good career” after the youngster came off the bench to inspire Arsenal to victory against Leicester City.
Nwaneri, who became the youngster player in Premier League history in August 2022, made his second league appearance of the season on Saturday afternoon as the Gunners scored late through a Wilfred Ndidi own goal and Kai Havertz to seal a 4-2 win over the Foxes at the Emirates.
But after goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leoandro Trossard were cancelled out by James Justin’s brace in the second half, Mikel Arteta called upon Raheem Sterling, Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus to try and change the course of the game once more.
And Walcott, who knows what it takes to break into the Gunners’ first team as a teenager following his £5m move to the Emirates in 2006, was left impressed with Nwaneri.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Walcott said: “The great thing about him is the first words that come to mind about him are ‘fearless’, and ‘confidence on the ball’.
“I saw him in midweek, he’s direct, wants to commit players and get his shots away. The end product is there. Again, he’s a player highly regarded in the academy.
“Likes to go inside and outside, likes to commit defenders. This time again he gets on the right side and he makes the end product again.
“We’re talking about players now that want to do something different on the half turn, create space for himself. This man has got a very good career ahead of him, that’s for sure.”
On Wednesday, Nwaneri scored his first professional goals for Arsenal in the League Cup third-round win over Bolton Wanderers.
