Arsenal are one of the few top clubs in the Premier League who have an excellent English core to boast about.
The likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are one of the first names in any Three Lions squad.
Ben White is an England international as well while it seems like only a matter of time until Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are also picked in the senior squad.
Thomas Tuchel is a fan of Lewis-Skelly’s, who is staking a claim for being the best left-back England have at their disposal. Tuchel planned to scout Lewis-Skelly further as he continues to impress in an Arsenal shirt this season.
With Thomas Tuchel set to take charge of England for the first time against Albania and Latvia during this month’s international break, it seems likely that the young defender will be handed a call-up.
Whether Nwaneri is also called up to the England side remains to be seen.
Joe Cole says Ethan Nwaneri is an “England player for the next 10, 15 years”
Declan Rice has lauded Nwaneri’s maturity and solely based on how well he has adapted to the senior game, he does merit being called up by Thomas Tuchel.
Perhaps the only doubt that Tuchel might have about naming the Arsenal wonderkid in his squad is whether the 17-year-old is too young.
But when Joe Cole was a player, he was proof that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough and he feels that Nwaneri certainly is — suggesting the former Bayern Munich boss to hand the teenager an England call-up.
Cole said on TNT Sports: “For me, he’s that good, he doesn’t need the U21s in my opinion. He’s that good, he needs to go straight in with Thomas Tuchel, use him, get around the players, bringing him off the bench, blooding him in there.”
“He’s an England player for the next 10, 15 years, wonderful talent, great mentality, he’s at the right club for him at the right time and I’d be stunned if Thomas Tuchel doesn’t say I want to have a look at him in close quarters and bring him into this squad.”
As Mikel Arteta hailed Nwaneri’s display against PSV, Joe Cole’s advice to the Spaniard after the game was to play him as an attacking midfielder once Bukayo Saka returns from injury.
“I love the pair of them but Nwaneri, I think is going to be an absolute genius. I think he’s the most exciting young footballer, at the moment in England and maybe even in Europe, what he’s doing is incredible.”
“And out of this difficult period that’s come out with him, I was just thinking to myself, when Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli get back, I’d move him inside and play like a double 10 with [Martin] Odegaard. I think that’s where he’ll end up.”
Where could Ethan Nwaneri rank among the youngest players to ever play for England?
Historically, England have given several youngsters a chance to represent the national team.
The likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Theo Walcott are perhaps some of the most famous examples.
However, if Nwaneri is called up by Thomas Tuchel and manages to earn his first England cap later this month, he could become the seventh youngest player in history to represent his country.
| YOUNGEST PLAYERS TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND | AGE AFTER THREE LIONS DEBUT |
| THEO WALCOTT | 17 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AND 14 DAYS |
| WAYNE ROONEY | 17 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AND 19 DAYS |
| JUDE BELLINGHAM | 17 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AND 14 DAYS |
| JAMES PRINCEP | 17 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AND 19 DAYS |
| TOT ROSTRON | 17 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AND 5 DAYS |
| RAHEEM STERLING | 17 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AND 6 DAYS |
| ETHAN NWANERI | 18 YEARS AND ONE DAY (IF HE PLAYS VS ALBANIA) |
The silky midfielder will leapfrog Clement Mitchell, who made his debut against Wales for England in 1880 if he plays against Albania.
But for that to occur, Thomas Tuchel will have to seek Joe Cole’s advice and call Nwaneri up to the England squad.
