Gabriel Jesus Lauds Arsenal Youngster Ethan Nwaneri as 'Killer' Finisher
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has heaped praise on young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, describing him as a 'killer' and the best finisher he has ever witnessed in training sessions. Nwaneri, who made headlines by breaking into Mikel Arteta's first-team squad at just 15 years old in 2022, has been touted as one of English football's most promising talents.
Nwaneri's Journey and Current Challenges
Last season, Nwaneri featured in 26 Premier League matches, scoring four goals and providing two assists. However, this campaign saw him struggle for regular playing time, leading to a January move to Marseille under manager Roberto De Zerbi. Since De Zerbi's departure in mid-February, the 19-year-old has not started in any of the subsequent seven matches for the French club.
Despite this lack of starts, Jesus remains unwavering in his admiration for Nwaneri's abilities. In an interview with Rio Ferdinand, Jesus emphasized, 'He's a killer in training, Ethan. He's a killer in front of the goal. He's a killer. Incredible!' He detailed a specific training drill where Nwaneri excels, saying, 'We play a D-zone game, like the coach has the ball and they play to one player on the edge of the box (and we shoot). And my guy, Ethan, is the best I have seen. Out of 10, nine goals. Even 10 sometimes. He's a killer.'
Marseille Coach's Perspective on Nwaneri
Marseille head coach Habib Beye acknowledged Nwaneri's talent but highlighted areas for improvement. Speaking before a match against Monaco, Beye stated, 'Ethan has great qualities, he's a great talent who needs to adapt to the intensity of Ligue 1.' He pointed out that while Nwaneri scored in a recent substitute appearance against Lille, his overall performance requires strengthening in defensive aspects like counter-pressing and ball recovery.
Beye added, 'He seems like the ideal replacement in Mason's absence but we also have the opportunity to change our system and our playmaking, so we have several choices and choice with quality players.' He noted the adaptation period for young players moving from the Premier League to a top Ligue 1 club like Marseille, but praised Nwaneri's recent goal for the national team as a positive sign.
Jesus Also Praises Arsenal's Max Dowman
In the same interview, Gabriel Jesus extended his commendation to another Arsenal youngster, Max Dowman, who has broken into the first team this season. Dowman scored a memorable goal against Everton before the international break, with Jesus remarking, 'He's the type of player that is very very good on the ball. To take the ball from him is really hard and then he can play wide and through the middle, so that's a good sign. And then he's strong, very strong.'
Jesus compared Dowman to Jack Grealish, saying, 'I think he's a proper English player like Jack. He's strong and good on the ball.' This endorsement underscores the depth of young talent at Arsenal, as highlighted by one of their key senior players.
