Mix Reactions As Rio Ferdinand supports Mikel Arteta’s decision to give Nwaneri debut

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has backed Mikel Arteta’s choice to provide Nigerian midfielder, Ethan Nwaneri, a really feel of the Premier League on the age of 15 years and 181 days.

He got here on for the ultimate couple of minutes of the Gunners’ 3-0 win over Brentford, with Nwaneri changing goalscorer Fabio Viera.

The Spaniard, Mikel Arteta, has been criticized by many a pundits for giving the Nigerian teenager his Premier League debut. The likes of Danny Murphy, Jason Cundy and Danny Mills all slamming the Spaniard’s choice.

Nwaneri tops the record for the youngest Premier League gamers, with Matthew Briggs, Izzy Brown and Aaron Lennon making up the top-five, whereas Jack Wilshere is probably the largest identify inside the highest 10.

Talking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand stated: “There’s no doubting this child’s capability, I’ve heard from coaches which can be on the membership and from varied completely different individuals within the recreation at that stage that there aren’t many 15-year-olds within the final 10 or so years that have gotten the flexibility that this man’s proven on a constant foundation. We’re speaking the Foden’s of this world. At 15, he’s at the same stage they’re speaking.”

Arteta defined why Nwaneri was introduced on after the sport and says it was all right down to intuition. He stated: “It was a pure intestine feeling. I met the boy [and] actually appreciated what I noticed. Per Mertesacker and the academy employees are giving me actually good info, Edu as effectively.

“I met him, he’s skilled a few instances with us. Yesterday (Saturday) he needed to come as a result of we’ve accidents, particularly the damage of Martin (Odegaard), after which I had that feeling from yesterday that if the chance might come that I used to be going to do it and I simply completed it.”