Ethan Nwaneri: Arsenal wonderkid paid the ultimate compliment after 'Lionel Messi like' moments | OneFootball

Nwaneri claimed an assist for Arsenal’s first goal against Leicester

Joe Cole says Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri showed touches “like Lionel Messi” during the win over Leicester.

Whilst super-sub Mikel Merino has taken most of the plaudits for scoring both goals in the 2-0 win, there has been plenty of praise for the aforementioned 17-year-old too.

Easily the Gunners’ best attacker throughout at the King Power Stadium, Nwaneri twice went close to breaking the deadlock in the second half.

Firstly, he cut in on to his favoured left foot but saw his effort clip the top of the crossbar before smashing another effort with his supposed weaker right foot against the post.

Though, Nwaneri did provide the assist for Merino’s first goal as his superb in-swinging chipped cross from the right picked out the Spaniard who rose highest in the box to head the ball past Mads Hermansen.

That goal sent Arsenal on their way to a massive win which means they have closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, who play Wolves on Sunday, to four points.

Speaking on TNT Sports after the game, Cole paid Nwaneri the ultimate compliment: "You can't mark him because he can go both ways. These little touches he produces in and around the box, I don't even want to say it but it's like Messi. I've said it.

"I'm not trying to put any more pressure on the kid's shoulders, even though I'm sure he'd deal with it, but the touches he makes as he receives the ball off the back foot, entices the defender and the touch off the top of the toe to put them off balance.

“He plays with such confidence and he's a beautiful player. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have to protect him."