Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has lavished praise on 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri following the team’s impressive 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 encounter.
Nwaneri, who is of Nigerian heritage, continued to showcase his immense talent by finding the back of the net once again, solidifying his reputation as one of the most promising young players in European football.
After the match, Rice expressed his admiration for Nwaneri’s performance on the grand stage of the Champions League.
Rice also noted the fearless attitude exhibited by Arsenal’s young players in training, underscoring their determination to perform when called upon.
Even with established stars like Bukayo Saka in the squad, Rice believes that Nwaneri would still command playing time due to his exceptional abilities and work ethic.
“Top. He’s 17-years-old and he’s on the biggest stage.
“We’ve taken them (youngsters) under our wing and they deserve to be playing. You should see them train they way they have no fear and want to perform.
“Even if (Bukayo) Saka was here Ethan would be still getting minutes because he’s that good and works so hard in training. Same with Myles (Lewis-Skelly) despite having to come off for the yellow card tonight, we have so many top young players.”
As Arsenal progress in the Champions League and continue to nurture its young stars, the spotlight will undoubtedly remain on Ethan Nwaneri.
