The 20th matchday of the Premier League saw two English U21 internationals shine on the biggest stage. Both starting in their respective games, Josh Acheampong (Chelsea) and Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) experienced significant debuts.
First Goal in a Starting Role for the Gunners Prodigy.
On September 18, 2022, at just 15 years and 181 days old, Ethan Nwaneri made history as the youngest player ever to appear in the English football league when he came on against Brentford. At the time, many expected him to feature regularly at such a young age. However, manager Mikel Arteta opted to nurture him through the U18 and U21 Premier League teams. Nwaneri had to wait until February 11, 2024, for another Premier League appearance, but his diligent training and impressive preseason earned him a place in the squad for every league match this season, making 12 appearances out of a possible 20, with his last two being starts. With Bukayo Saka sidelined long-term, Nwaneri has taken up the right-wing position, and though he prefers playing as a No. 10, his performances have pleased Arteta. On Saturday, against Brighton, a struggling Arsenal team came to the Amex Stadium, and with limited opportunities, it was the young Nwaneri who opened the scoring just 15 minutes into the game. After a well-timed pass from Merino, Nwaneri cut inside and finished with a low shot that beat the Seagulls’ keeper. After several decisive moments for club and country, including in cup matches and with the U19 England squad, Nwaneri has finally made his mark in the Premier League after a long wait. Unfortunately, his premature substitution at halftime against Brighton will keep him off the field for a while.
Acheampong’s Big Debut.
Shifting focus to a more defensive profile, Josh Acheampong has recently had his moment in the spotlight. Long blocked by the strong defensive pairing of Fofana and Colwill, the injury to Fofana, combined with other absences in the defense, has opened the door for the 18-year-old central defender. These past few weeks have not been easy for him, but Acheampong has been identified early on as a major talent at Chelsea. He signed his first professional contract on January 3, 2024, and made the bench for his first senior squad match on March 11, 2024, against Newcastle. His first professional minutes came on May 2, 2024. However, his run of appearances ended abruptly when his club refused to field him and insisted he train with the first team until his new contract was signed, to prevent him from leaving for free after more than ten years of being with Chelsea. After several weeks on hold, the young England U20 defender made his return on December 12 for a Conference League match against Astana, where he played the full 90 minutes. Since then, he has been included in the squad for every competition, and after four Premier League appearances as an unused substitute, his first league start came in a short trip to Crystal Palace. Despite conceding a goal in a 1-1 draw, Acheampong impressed his coach: “All the players, for me, were good today, but if I had to choose one, I think, without a doubt, Josh was our best player because of his age and because it was his first match,” said Maresca. “Josh, for me, can become an important player for this club, but he needs the right path, the right time; for young players, it’s about knowing when to make the right decision. We decided today because we thought he had shown that he was ready. Today, I think he showed how good he is. But because of his age, he has to take it slow, work hard, and seize his next opportunity.” Maresca didn’t rule out the possibility of recruiting another central defender this month, despite Acheampong’s impressive debut. “We already knew Josh had the level. Probably, with the injuries to Wes [Fofana] and Benoît [Badiashile], we’ll see if something happens.”
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