Arsenal gem Ethan Nwaneri torn between Nigeria and England. Photo by IMAGO
Former Poland international Emmanuel Olisadebe has advised Arsenal prodigy Ethan Nwaneri to pledge his international future to Nigeria rather than England, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nwaneri, one of England’s most exciting young talents, has made significant strides at Arsenal since making his senior debut. At just 17, he has already showed his immense potential in the Premier League and domestic competitions.
The attacking midfielder made history on 18 September 2022, when he became the youngest-ever Arsenal player and the youngest to feature in the Premier League at just 15 years and 181 days. This feat broke the previous records set by Harvey Elliott and Sunderland’s Derek Forster, who had held the English top-flight benchmark since 1964.
Nwaneri’s stock has continued to rise, and in September, he scored his first senior goals with a brace in Arsenal’s 5–1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup third round.
Just two months later, on 23 November, he netted his maiden Premier League goal in the Gunners’ 3–0 victory against Nottingham Forest, making him the ninth-youngest scorer in the competition’s history at 17 years and 247 days.
Born in England to Nigerian parents, Nwaneri has so far represented England at the youth level and is on the radar of Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
However, he remains eligible to switch allegiance to Nigeria, a prospect that could appeal given the Super Eagles’ current need for a high-quality right winger. With Samuel Chukwueze and Nathan Tella struggling for consistency, Nwaneri could offer a fresh attacking option for Nigeria.
Olisadebe, who was born in Nigeria but chose to represent Poland during his playing days, understands the complexities of such a decision. He believes that Nigerian players often struggle to establish themselves in England’s senior national team and suggests that committing to Nigeria could be a more rewarding path for Nwaneri.
“I think it boils down to the players themselves,” Olisadebe told ThisDay.
“Coming from a situation like that is just a matter of choice. I was faced with the choice of playing between Nigeria and Poland and I decided to play for the latter. The player has to look deep, find out what is best for him. If he feels playing for England is the best for him, then fine.
“But we all know how the English do; they might just dump him after playing one game. It’s a very difficult decision to make, but I hope he makes the right one.”
16-year-old Nigerian Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has turned heads with his astonishing hat-trick for Arsenal U21 against Leicester City U21. I believe he has a better future playing for Nigeria than England. A pic.twitter.com/Wb61HktaNZ
— Goke Adebisi (@gOkEspark) August 19, 2023
History supports Olisadebe’s concerns. Several players of Nigerian descent, including Gabriel Agbonlahor and Dele Alli, earned England caps but were never truly integrated into the squad, missing out on major tournaments.
More recently, talents like Eberechi Eze, Tammy Abraham, and Fikayo Tomori have struggled to secure regular playing time with the Three Lions despite their abilities.
Conversely, players who opted for Nigeria have enjoyed more impactful international careers. Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina have won bronze and silver medals at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman — who switched allegiance from England — was crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year after his heroics at the AFCON, Europa League and Serie A.
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