17-Year-Old Shines in Arsenal’s 7-1 Champions League Rout Over PSV, Sparking Calls for Immediate International Recognition
Former England star Joe Cole has made a bold claim that Arsenal’s teenage prodigy Ethan Nwaneri is ready to leap straight into the senior England squad, following his standout performance in the Gunners’ emphatic 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League last 16 first-leg tie on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old midfielder, who has already made 27 appearances for Arsenal this season, seized his opportunity on the big stage, combining with fellow academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly to score Arsenal’s second goal. Nwaneri’s rise has been accelerated by long-term injuries to key players, but Cole believes the youngster has proven he belongs at the highest level.
“Nwaneri is going to be an absolute genius,” Cole declared on TNT Sports. “He’s the most exciting young footballer in England right now, and maybe even in Europe. What he’s doing at his age is incredible. When [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli return, I’d move him inside and play him as a double 10 with [Martin] Odegaard. That’s where I think he’ll end up.”
Cole, a former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder, went even further, suggesting Nwaneri should bypass the England U21s altogether. “He’s that good—he doesn’t need the U21s, in my opinion. He needs to go straight into Thomas Tuchel’s squad. Use him, get him around the senior players, bring him off the bench. He’s an England player for the next 10 or 15 years. He’s a wonderful talent with a great mentality.”
Tuchel, who is set to name his first England squad on March 13 ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, has been urged to take a closer look at the Arsenal starlet. “I’d be stunned if Tuchel didn’t say, ‘I want to have a look at him up close and bring him into this squad,’” Cole added.
Arsenal’s dominant performance in Eindhoven marked a dramatic turnaround from their recent struggles in front of goal, having failed to score in three of their last four games. Goals from Jurrien Timber, Nwaneri, and Mikel Merino gave the Gunners a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime, with the team eventually cruising to a 7-1 victory. The result all but guarantees their place in the quarter-finals, where they could face the winner of the Madrid derby.
Karen Carney, another TNT Sports pundit, praised Arsenal’s response to their recent challenges. “The narrative going into the game was, ‘Why didn’t they sign a striker given their injuries?’ They answered that emphatically tonight. Different goal scorers stepped up, and they can now afford to rest players in the second leg. It was a fantastic away performance.”
Cole echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of momentum. “Any win can change things. Arsenal have been through a difficult run, but tonight’s result is a massive boost. Winning away in the Champions League is never easy, so this is an incredible performance from them.”
As Nwaneri continues to shine, the calls for his inclusion in the England senior squad grow louder. With his talent, maturity, and fearless approach, the Arsenal teenager may soon find himself rubbing shoulders with the nation’s elite on the international stage.
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