MARTIN KEOWN is desperate for Ethan Nwaneri NOT to get an England call-up this month over fears of fatigue.
The 17-year-old academy star has been a revelation for Arsenal in the absence of crocked Bukayo Saka so far this term, scoring eight goals in 28 games across all competitions.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown doesn’t believe Ethan Nwaneri should link up with England[/caption]
The Arsenal teenager has enjoyed a meteoric rise this season[/caption]
With Thomas Tuchel announcing his first England squad on Friday, Gunners midfielder Nwaneri has an outside chance of being included in his first senior Three Lions camp – having already represented the U16s, U17s and U19s.
However, Arsenal legend Keown is concerned for Nwaneri’s welfare – especially given his slight drop-off in recent Prem clashes against West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
TNT pundit Keown explained: “There’s a chance [Nwaneri] may make the international team. That’s a concern, that’s a worry.
“You take it if it comes but if it doesn’t, then he gets a nice bit of time with the manager, resting up between games so there’s a balance.
“It does one thing for confidence but another for the body. When you’re 17, you’re not even fully developed in terms of your cardiovascular system. You’re not really a man yet.
“There’s still some growing to do, and recently he has looked tired, like he was blowing, and this is normal for a 17-year-old kid.
“So it might be a time where he needs resting. And if he doesn’t make the full squad, does he need to be involved in the U21s?
“This has got to be sensibly managed between now and the end of the season.”
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Tuchel’s England have two home World Cup qualifiers coming up – against Albania on March 21 and Latvia on March 24.
Another Arsenal youngster that has a chance of being in the mix is left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly after also breaking into the first team under Mikel Arteta this campaign.
Given England’s left-back situation – with consistent fitness issues for Luke Shaw, Ben Chilwell and Lewis Hall – 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly has been earmarked for his international debut following a recent spell as U19s captain.
And Keown believes he deserves it – even with a disciplinary record that Arteta has warned could make the teenager a liability.
Keown said: “He’s had some issues, but in terms of physicality, he’s ready to go.
“He looks like he could play and there’s a problem at left-back for England.
“He’s different [to Nwaneri], more developed. I wouldn’t say he’s a freak of nature, but when you see the strength in him, he is all about power.
“So he is not going to want to be denied the opportunity to play for England.”
Arsenal ratings vs Man Utd as Rice runs Gunners midfield but wonderkid Nwaneri falls below high standards
DECLAN RICE rescued a point for Arsenal after David Raya failed to stop a Bruno Fernandes freekick.
Fernandes’ set piece was followed by a brilliant Rice strike in the second half, leaving the sides with a point apiece.
After a quiet first half, both sides woke up and provided more going forward after the break but lacked quality in the final third.
Raya’s display in the second half more than made up for his earlier error and, alongside Rice, kept his side in the game.
Coming off the back of a riotous 7-1 victory over PSV, Arsenal reverted to their goal scoring woes and proved once again that they desperately need a striker.
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Lewis-Skelly has been shown two straight reds already in his senior Arsenal career, first at Molineux in January – which was later rescinded – and in February at the Emirates against the Hammers.
And he was lucky not to pick up a first-half second yellow in the 7-1 Champions League last 16 first leg victory over PSV last week.
Keown – who was shown 6 red cards in 310 Prem appearances for Arsenal – added: “I remember at that age being impetuous, going off your feet. But you just learn.
“I had to do that myself, you have to learn the hard way. You think you can win every tackle, and then suddenly you’re playing against a quicker, stronger player, a little nudge here and there, and you’re committed to it.
“People now will probably be diving in and around him a little bit, because they know he might go off his feet.
“So just pick and choose, but you get better at that.”
Watch Arsenal in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
