‘I’ve seen enough’… Joleon Lescott convinced that Arsenal youngster will become a superstar

Add as preferred source on Google

Mikel Arteta certainly has some exciting youngsters transitioning from the Hale End Academy to the Arsenal first team right now.

Jack Porter and Josh Nichols were the latest two young talents to make their debut for Arsenal in the recent EFL Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers.

Both played out of necessity given the senior players that were missing, however, the pair still gave a good account of themselves.

In a similar vein to Ethan Nwaneri a few years ago, 16-year-old Porter will now return to Arsenal’s youth sides before hopefully making his proper breakthrough in a few years time.

Nwaneri himself is currently away with England under-19s over the international break, a squad Myles Lewis-Skelly was overlooked for.

Lewis-Skelly was brilliant for Arsenal under-21s this week, an 18-year-old who will still move between teams.

Joleon Lescott says Ethan Nwaneri is ‘going to be a baller’ at Arsenal

That being said, Nwaneri is now a firm member of the first-team set up at the Emirates Stadium.

And when speaking on the ‘Filthy Fellas’ podcast, former Manchester City player Joleon Lescott, who is now part of Lee Carsley’s interim coaching with England, spoke about Nwaneri’s potential.

READ MORE: Bukayo Saka praises the mentality of £34m Arsenal teammate who has ‘stayed humble’  

Lescott had been impressed by what he had seen from Nwaneri, which bodes well considering the Arsenal youngster will be hoping to rise his way through the England ranks very soon.

Asked if he had seen much of Nwaneri, Lescott said: “Yeah I’ve seen enough to know that he’s comfy you know what I mean?

“He’s going to be a baller, but that position was that left wing, right wing so it was Noni and Harvey, so should he play ahead of them?”

“As great as he is and as good as he’s going to be, there’s someone there who’s actually doing it.”

Neither Arsenal or England will want to rush Ethan Nwaneri

Interesting comments, and ones perhaps explain why Nwaneri is yet to be called up to England under-21s despite already appearing too strong for the under-19s.

It’s an odd situation, coaches at Arsenal and England must know that Nwaneri is ready to start week in, week out at the highest level, in terms of his ability at least.

But the 17-year-old still needs to be protected to a degree, too much football too soon can be damaging at this point of any player’s career.

There’s still plenty of time for Nwaneri follow Bukayo Saka’s path, and Lescott is right to mention that Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott are at a completely different level of experience right now.