Arsenal Under-21 manager Mehmet Ali has praised one of the Gunners’ best youth prospects for his ‘ruthless streak’ despite losing 5-3 against Aston Villa on Monday.
The Villans dealt the Gunners a demoralising result in the Premier League 2 at Meadow Park after opening a 5-1 lead. It leaves Arsenal down in sixth place after 18 fixtures and 10 points behind leaders, Tottenham Hotspur. They are next in action on April 22 at Blackburn Rovers.
Ali has only overseen one win in Arsenal’s past five PL2 encounters but could see a reason to praise one academy talent after facing Aston Villa. The Gunners took the initial lead on eight minutes with Aidan Borland’s inadvertent own goal. But the Villans replied in brutal fashion.
Mehmet Ali praises Ethan Nwaneri despite Arsenal’s U21s losing 5-3 to Aston Villa
The ball ricocheted off Borland to give Arsenal the early advantage as Ismeal Kabia sought to cross to Ethan Nwaneri. The Gunners hit Aston Villa on a quick counter-attack but they could not build on the goal. Kyrie Pierre’s header drew the Villans’ U21 side level after 25 minutes.
Goals from Kobei Moore (39’, 77’) Travis Patterson (45’) and Pierre (47’) then ensured Aston Villa enjoyed wins against Arsenal at the senior and Under-21 level in the space of two days. But a late brace from Nwaneri (87’, 90’+5) ensured the scoreline seemed more respectable.
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Nwaneri now boasts 10 goals in just 11 Premier League 2 games and his efforts drew praise from Arsenal U21 boss Ali after facing Aston Villa. The academy coach finds his form in front of the net ‘very pleasing’. But Ali wants Nwaneri to see where the 17-year-old can improve.
“Ethan’s got a very ruthless streak in him when it comes to scoring goals,” Mehmet told the official Arsenal website.
“He’s got very good finishing, which he’s shown at [the] 21s level, which is really pleasing. He also needs to look at what he can do to improve and aspire to get into our first-team.”
Ethan Nwaneri has 10 goals in 11 Premier League 2 games
Nwaneri was in the thick of the action all night as Arsenal hosted Aston Villa’s U21 squad at Meadow Park. His delivery for Jimi Gower even nearly saw the Gunners open a 2-0 lead and forced a solid stop from James Wright near the hour mark after the Villans sealed a 4-1 lead.
Further chances for Arsenal to score against Aston Villa’s U21s also fell to Nwaneri’s feet. Yet it took until the closing stages for the 17-year-old to find a way past Gower. But he scored in style in the 87th minute by curling his long-range attempt first-time into the top, left corner.
Nwaneri then capped off Arsenal’s free-flowing stoppage-time move to reach 10 goals in 11 PL2 games this season. The Hale End hero has also offered two assists, and scored a further six goals in the FA Youth Cup. Nwaneri hit five past Crewe Alexandra’s U18s in their 7-1 win.