England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley says he intends to remain in regular contact with Arsenal over superstar teenager Ethan Nwaneri.
The 18-year-old burst onto the scene after injuries to Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz opened up opportunities to play in the Gunners’ first team.
Nwaneri, who became the youngest player in Premier League history when he played for Arsenal aged 15 years and 181 days old in September 2022, has grasped his chance with both hands, impressing on the right wing in the absence of Saka.
A call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s first senior England squad for the recent international break was touted, but Nwaneri had to settle for a place in the Under-21s in the end – a level he hadn’t previously played at before taking on France and Portugal.
Nwaneri scored a superb individual goal in the latter, drawing lavish praise from England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley in the aftermath of the game.
“I think it’s a finish that he’s got,” Carsley said post-match. “Everyone knows exactly what’s going to happen, but you just cannot stop it. So you know he’s going to go, touch, finish, and he scored his goal so well.
“He took his goal so well, but we have to keep remembering he’s 1., Unbelievable, isn’t it?
Carsley elaborated that his primary concern is to look after and nurture the development of Nwaneri, which will only be possible by working closely with his employers at club level.
“So we just have to encourage these guys, the rest of the team must support him as well because I’m not sure it’s always going be as progressive as it is,” Carsley said. “But God, what an impression he has made. We must look after him and make sure that going to the tournament in the summer is the right thing.
“Well, obviously, we’ll work with Arsenal and make sure that we’re on the same page.”
