Last Sunday, Mikel Arteta surprisingly decided to hand Ethan Nwaneri his Premier League debut as Arsenal strolled to a 3-0 win over Brentford.
The Hale End sensation – who is now the youngest Premier League player of all time at 15 years and 181 days – has since been the name on everyone’s lips after his shock debut, with the spotlight firmly fixed on the teenager.
In our view, the intense hype surrounding Nwaneri could have a negative impact on his development if he allows it to go to his head, which is why we think Martin Odegaard now has a big responsibility on his shoulders.
What’s the story?
Well, the Norway international will know exactly how Nwaneri feels right now.
Odegaard himself went viral at the same age thanks to his stunning displays for Norwegian outfit Strømsgodset, which remarkably earned him a £2.3m move to Real Madrid at the age of just 16.
It represented a significant step up for the young playmaker, who had also been given his senior international debut for Norway at the age of 15.
Odegaard handled the pressure well despite being loaned out to four different clubs by Real Madrid in six years, and eventually started to perform on a regular basis at Real Sociedad before making a £30m move to Arsenal.
Now, the 23-year-old has become captain under Arteta, and having experienced a similar breakthrough to Nwaneri, we hope he can guide the 15-year-old through what is set to be a pressurised few years for the starlet.
Ethan Nwaneri in the right environment at Arsenal
Aside from Odegaard, Nwaneri has a number of colleagues who can help him fulfil his potential.
The England Under-17 international can lean on a natural leader in Granit Xhaka for advice, while he also has a number of fellow Hale End graduates to speak to in Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah.
Additionally, Arteta seems to be a great coach when it comes to nurturing young talent, so Nwaneri appears to have everything he needs to become an important player for Arsenal.
Hopefully, the media do not crush this exceptional talent like they have with many others, and he can have a tremendous career with the Gunners.
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