'We have Wirtz at home!': How Nwaneri can be Arsenal's answer to €150m star

Updated: 29 Sept 2024 10:50 BST
4 min read

Arsenal are keen on signing Florian Wirtz in a deal that could cost a British transfer record but the Gunners could already have their very own version of the German superstar at home.

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The Gunners have reportedly joined the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the race to sign Wirtz, although Bayer Leverkusen are understood to have slapped a €150 million asking price on the 21-year-old.

Although his signing would undoubtedly be a coup for one of the world’s brightest young talents, Arsenal may be witnessing the emergence of a Hale End wonderkid ready to be their own answer to Wirtz.

Ethan Nwaneri made his first ever Arsenal start last week in the Carabao Cup against Bolton and the 17-year-old capped his full debut with two goals in a man-of-the-match display.

The wonderkid already made history as the Premier League’s youngest ever player when he came off the bench against Brentford in September 2022 aged 15 and 181 days.

Nwaneri was a late substitute in Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester this weekend and, despite only playing five minutes, his display showed why Mikel Arteta should nurture his talent instead of splashing the cash elsewhere.

© IMAGO - Ethan Nwaneri has been impressive in his gametime so far for Arsenal.

Arteta praises Nwaneri 'courage'

Until this season, Nwaneri had only played one further game for Arsenal since his record-breaking debut, but he made his first Premier League appearance of the season in a four-minute spell off the bench in the North London derby earlier this month.

After following that up with his breakout start against Bolton, Nwaneri was rewarded with another run out against Leicester and he did not disappoint, instantly exciting fans with a silky dribble past a number of defenders.

“He came on and immediately beat one, two, three players. I just love it!” Arteta said after Nwaneri’s short-but-sweet cameo. “If you want to play here you need to play with that courage.”

Arsenal scored twice with Nwaneri on the pitch, with the midfielder creating one chance, completing all six of his passes and having a shot on target in five minutes, highlighting the ‘courage’ Arteta praised him for.

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ETV Range

€3.3M - €5.5M

With captain Martin Odegaard sidelined with injury, Nwaneri will likely have more opportunities to prove his credentials in the first team as a tricky and creative midfielder.

Nwaneri is the same age as Wirtz when he had his breakout for Leverkusen and it is testament to the Arsenal man’s potential that he could easily emulate the German international’s impact going forward.

While Wirtz would certainly help Arsenal’s ambitions in the short-term, his signing would only prevent Nwaneri’s pathway to fulfilling his potential.

Arsenal will hope that Nwaneri continues to progress and prove to Arteta why that €150m would be better spent on other areas as the wonderkid blossoms into the Gunners’ newest superstar.