Arsenal backed to block Man City signing their record-breaking midfielder – pundit
Frank McAvennie has insisted Arsenal need to pay up to hold on to young talent like Ethan Nwaneri.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham striker said that the Emirates is the most appealing club for youngsters at the moment.
Nwaneri, 15, made his Premier League debut in September in the Gunners’ 3-0 win over Brentford where he was subbed on for the final minute of the game and became the club’s youngest-ever player.
The midfielder has made 18 appearances for Arsenal’s under-18s and has scored seven goals and provided five assists in those outings.
According to the Telegraph (13 March), Nwaneri is the subject of significant interest from some of the club’s Premier League rivals, including Man City and Chelsea.
The teenager cannot sign a professional deal until he turns 17 but Mikel Arteta’s side are hopeful of keeping him at the club until then.
When asked how important it is for a team like Arsenal to keep hold of young talent, McAvennie told Football Insider: “Arteta is all for giving the kids a chance and I think it is a good way to be.
“They have got to play with other experienced players. He [Nwaneri] will be looking at players that have come through the ranks and will be thinking ‘they are young I want to play with them’.
“If you go somewhere else where are you going to play? He is not going to walk in to a Premier League side.
“If they think he is worth a lot of money they have got to pay him what he is worth to keep him, with assurances that he will get in the squad and get a chance. But also it might just be his agent saying that everyone is after him.“
In other news, according to sources, Arsenal line up ‘huge’ new bid for Brighton star.