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Ethan Nwaneri helped England Under-21s beat Moldova 4-0 to maintain their 100 per cent record after two matches of European Championship qualifying.
The Arsenal teenager was given the license to roam in the number 10 position and provided assists for the opening two goals scored by Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens and Stoke striker Divin Mubama in Chisinau. He also laid on the through-ball which saw debutant Josh King brought down for a 74th-minute penalty, which was converted by Mubama.
Nwaneri has struggled for regular minutes in a Gunners shirt this season, featuring just five times in all competitions. The 18-year-old is yet to score or assist for Mikel Arteta this campaign but he looked extremely sharp for Lee Carsley’s side on Friday.
It was Nwaneri’s 28th-minute run, having offloaded the ball, which took two defenders with him and allowed Gittens to cut inside on his right foot and beat Victor Dordon at his near post with a shot the goalkeeper should have done better with. The Arsenal man continued to pull the strings and in the 68th minute, Nwaneri’s clever reverse pass picked out Mubama, who took one touch and beat the goalkeeper for pace.
The win briefly took Carsley’s side top of Group D but Slovakia’s 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland saw both sides, who have played one game more, move back above them.
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Nwaneri will hope his form for his country pricks the attention of Arteta ahead of games against Fulham, Atletico Madrid, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Burnley and Slavia Praha in the coming weeks. The Hale Ender signed a new long-term contract extension in August and at the time spoke of how he intends to keep on improving.
“Signing this contract means everything to me,” he said. “I see this as my first real season in men’s senior football, as part of the squad in the changing room.
“I’m so excited for what I can bring to the team. I want to help us win as much as possible and bring happiness and glory to the club. This is where I feel at home. I think I’ve actually become more direct over the past few years and I’ve added more goals, so I’m excited for what will come next.”
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