Jack Wilshere says Ethan Nwaneri has a fantastic trait Arsenal fans are yet to see

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal have a truly special talent in Ethan Nwaneri.

The Hale End graduate has already racked up 43 appearances for the Gunners – scoring nine goals – particularly standing out when cutting inside on his left foot.

However – according to Jack Wilshere – there is another impressive trait Ethan Nwaneri has which Arsenal fans are yet to see.

Jack Wilshere claims Ethan Nwaneri is incredible when it comes to dribbling

The man who made 197 appearances for Arsenal believes supporters have no idea how good the England U21 international is at dribbling.

Discussing Nwaneri – who rates Diogo Dalot highly – Wilshere told talkSPORT: “Ethan’s stepped up his game another level this year. Myles (Lewis-Skelly) as well, he looks more ready.

“I love Myles because how team-orientated he is and how (much of) a leader he is. Ethan’s got magic and I think people are starting to see that a little bit more now. I think he probably took a bit of time to understand what Mikel (Arteta) wanted out of possession, and exactly what he wanted in possession, but he’s got some ability.

“One thing that – and I think this takes longer for any young player when they get into the team – that we haven’t seen yet that much… his dribbling ability. He can get at players, he can beat players. So yeah, I’d like to see him centrally at some point.”

Nwaneri has made 21 appearances on the right flank throughout his career – scoring just five goals while providing two assists – but is quite clearly more effective in the middle, as you can see below.

Fortunately, Arteta agrees with Wilshere.

Arsenal have decided to use Ethan Nwaneri in the centre

Arsenal felt Nwaneri started to find himself running out of ideas on the right flank last season, and have therefore decided to focus on nurturing the 18-year-old solely as a central attacking midfielder.

That is according to the reliable James McNicholas, who told the Arsecast podcast: “Everything I heard towards the back end of last season suggested that Arsenal felt Ethan hit a bit of a wall in terms of his wide development and performance.

“They felt like defenders were sort of wise to what he was trying to do in that position and that he would be better served by being in central areas.”

Nwaneri has only made four appearances so far this season, but they have all come centrally while a new wide attacker was signed in Noni Madueke, so the teenager certainly looks to have moved on from his days as a winger.