Premier League record-breaker Ethan Nwaneri has the perfect coach in Jack Wilshere as he develops at Arsenal, believes Gunners captain .
The 15-year-old sensation made his debut for the first team in September against Brentford and became the youngest player in Premier League history in doing so.
The midfielder does not even turn 16 until March and is working with Wilshere in the Under-18 set-up in north , someone who knows all about bursting onto the scene at an early age.
Wilshere was just 16 when he made his senior debut for Arsenal, while Odegaard was 15 himself when he made his first team debut in Norway for Stromsgodset, so he is well aware of the pressures the youngster faces as well.
The 23-year-old has some words of advice for Nwaneri and believes Wilshere will have plenty more, being the ideal man to guide his young career.
‘At the end of that Brentford game Ethan Nwaneri came on and became our youngest ever player aged 15,’ said Odegaard. ‘It’s similar to my story in a way, because I was about the same age when I made my professional debut.
‘The big difference though is that I was doing it at a Norwegian club and Ethan is at Arsenal! But then I went to Madrid and played there at the age of 16, so it’s a bit similar. What I think is important now is to not put extra pressure on Ethan by speaking about him too much.
‘We should just give him time to keep on developing his game. Obviously he’s got lots of talent and I’m sure he can make a big future for himself, but we need to give him space and time to carry on working without pressure.
‘He needs to keep on playing, keep enjoying his football, keep working hard and then you will get what you deserve. For me that’s the most important thing to tell him – keep working hard, keep pushing hard every day, stay humble and then your talent will be rewarded.
‘He has lots of people around him to help him with his journey – and nobody will know better than his under-18 coach Jack Wilshere, because he was in that position at Arsenal too.
‘I’m sure he’s in great hands and he will keep on working now, but he should be proud of making his debut too.’
After handing the teenager his debut in the 3-0 win at Brentford, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explained: ‘The first day I met him I looked him in his eyes and everyone was telling me about him, Per was telling me about him, and because of the injuries we only have 12 or 13 senior players yesterday to put in the squad and we decided to bring him, and that’s it.
‘It’s one step, one experience, so enjoy it and congratulations!’
, .
, and .
