Joe Cole emphasizes that the ‘exceptional talent’ Ethan Nwaneri deserves a call-up to the senior England team following his performance for Arsenal.

Nwaneri: The Rising Star Who Deserves an England Call-Up, Says Cole

In a bold assertion, former England international Joe Cole has declared that Arsenal’s teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri is more than ready for a senior call-up to the national team. Following a resounding 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, Cole believes the 17-year-old has proven himself as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.

Nwaneri was among the six different goalscorers for the Gunners in Eindhoven, showcasing his talent by combining with fellow Hale-End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly to score Arsenal’s second goal of the night. With 27 appearances under his belt this season, the young midfielder has taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to him due to injuries within the squad.

Cole, now a pundit for TNT Sports, expressed his admiration for Nwaneri, stating, “He’s going to be an absolute genius. He’s the most exciting young footballer at the moment in England and maybe even in Europe.” He went on to suggest that once key players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli return from injury, Nwaneri should be moved into a more central role, playing alongside Martin Ødegaard in a double playmaker setup.

The former Chelsea star further emphasized Nwaneri’s readiness for the senior squad, saying, “He’s that good that he doesn’t need the U21s, in my opinion. I think he’s that good. He needs to go straight in with Thomas Tuchel. Use him, get him around the players, bring him off the bench.” Cole is confident that Nwaneri could be a mainstay in the England setup for the next decade, praising his talent and mentality.

As Thomas Tuchel prepares to announce his first squad as England head coach on March 13, the Three Lions are set to face Albania and Latvia in crucial World Cup qualifiers later that month. With Nwaneri’s impressive form, many fans will be eager to see if he makes the cut.

Arsenal Back to Scoring Ways?

Arsenal entered the Champions League clash with PSV having struggled to find the net in three of their last four matches across all competitions. However, the Gunners quickly silenced their critics, with goals from Jurrien Timber, Nwaneri, and Mikel Merino putting them three up before half-time.

With a commanding 7-1 lead at the halfway stage, Arsenal appears to have one foot firmly in the quarter-finals, where they could face the winner of the Madrid derby. Karen Carney, also speaking on TNT Sports, highlighted the significance of the victory, noting, “The narrative going into the game was, ‘Why didn’t they bring that striker given the injuries?’ They answered it particularly in this competition tonight.”

Cole echoed her sentiments, stating, “Any win can change things. Momentum in football can change things. Arsenal are coming out of a very difficult run. They have been miles off it relative to the standards they’ve set themselves. So tonight’s a massive plus for them. Any away game in the Champions League is difficult, so it’s an incredible performance from them.”

As Arsenal looks to build on this momentum, fans will be hoping that Nwaneri continues to shine and that the team can maintain their scoring prowess in the matches to come.