Nigeria’s hopes of securing Arsenal’s highly-rated youngster Ethan Nwaneri have been handed a major boost after England head coach Thomas Tuchel omitted the teenager from his latest squad, Soccernet.ng reports.
Tuchel, overseeing his first selection as Three Lions manager, has named a 23-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
But despite strong speculation that the in-form Arsenal attacker could earn a senior call-up, Nwaneri was not included in the squad.
The 17-year-old, who turns 18 in a few days, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Arsenal, scoring eight goals and registering one assist in 28 appearances across all competitions.
His performances had reportedly placed him on Tuchel’s radar ahead of the March international window, but the German tactician opted against calling him up.
Instead, Tuchel selected an experienced attacking lineup featuring captain Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), and Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).
Had Nwaneri been included and made his senior debut, he would have been cap-tied to England. His omission leaves the door open for Nigeria, who have long courted the teenager in hopes of persuading him to represent the Super Eagles at the senior level.
England or Nigeria: Where is Nwaneri from?
Born in Enfield, North London, to Nigerian parents, Nwaneri remains eligible to play for both England and Nigeria.
His father, Obinna ‘Obi’ Nwaneri, hails from Imo State in southeastern Nigeria and moved to the UK many years ago in search of better opportunities.
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Football has always been a key part of the Nwaneri household. Obi played a crucial role in shaping his son’s early footballing journey, training both Ethan and his younger brother Emerson in their local park in Islington, just a stone’s throw from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
This hands-on coaching approach helped instill discipline, dedication, and an unwavering work ethic in Ethan—qualities that have propelled him to becoming one of Arsenal’s most exciting young prospects.
What makes Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri so special?
Arsenal prodigy Ethan Nwaneri has already carved his name into the record books with several historic milestones.
He made his Premier League debut for Arsenal at just 15 years and 181 days old against Brentford on September 18, 2022, breaking Harvey Elliott’s previous record to become the youngest player in Premier League history.
His Brentford appearance also made him the youngest player to feature in any competition for Arsenal, surpassing the previous mark set by Cesc Fàbregas.
Nwaneri became Arsenal’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer after Fàbregas when he netted against Nottingham Forest at 17 years and 247 days old.
He is also the first Arsenal player born after the Emirates Stadium’s inauguration in 2006 to register a goal involvement at the ground.
Nwaneri is the only player in Arsenal’s history to score more than once in the Premier League before turning 18.
What next for Nwaneri?
Despite his omission from Tuchel’s England squad, Nwaneri’s international future remains undecided.
Having represented England at U16, U17, and U19 levels—scoring an impressive 22 goals across those age groups—he has been firmly embedded in the Three Lions’ youth setup.
However, Nigeria will view this as an opportunity to convince the Arsenal starlet to switch allegiances. The Super Eagles have successfully persuaded other dual-nationality players in recent years, including Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Ola Aina.
With Nwaneri yet to make a senior international appearance, the decision now rests with the youngster. Will he commit to England and wait for another call-up? Or will he seize the opportunity to represent Nigeria on the grand stage?
For now, the race for his international future remains wide open.