‘It’s Like He’s Been Playing For 10 Years’ – Kai Havertz Heaps Praise On Gunners Youngster

By The Editor
on 6th December 2024

Kai Havertz heaps praise on Ethan Nwaneri…

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz praised Ethan Nwaneri’s maturity and predicted that the Gunners starlet will have a big future, he told Men in Blazers., he told Men in Blazers.

Nwaneri has continued his gradual development this season as he attempts to become a regular first-team player, with the 17-year-old bagging his first Premier League goal against Nottingham Forest last month.

The Hale End star’s starts this season have come exclusively in the Carabao Cup and he’s responded to that exposure in emphatic fashion – scoring three goals in two games.

Mikel Arteta reiterated that Arsenal will build Nwaneri “brick by brick” without missing any steps, irrespective of the external clamour for the playmaker to make more starts.

For Havertz, Nwaneri is already showing his credentials in training and the German international is in awe at the maturity the protege shows on the pitch.

“He’s unbelievable, he has so much quality,” Havertz said.

“He works so hard every day and you see that he just wants to play, he just wants to prove himself at the highest level.”

When asked to name what he admires most about the academy graduate, Havertz said: “For me, it feels like he plays 10 years already at the highest level of football.

“He’s not nervous, when we need him he’s there. He’s a hard worker as well… the most important thing is that he gives 100% on the training pitch and he wants to get better.”

In terms of Arteta’s analogy of building Nwaneri, one wonders if our Carabao Cup clash against Crystal Palace later this month will be when another layer of brick is added to the process.

The boss is clearly guarded against giving the starlet a start in the Premier League, though playing top-level opposition in another competition will be a good opportunity to see if he’s fully comfortable at this level.