Joe Cole insists ‘wonderful talent’ Ethan Nwaneri should receive senior England call-up after Arsenal display

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Joe Cole insisted Ethan Nwaneri is ready for an England call-up after his display in Arsenal's 7-1 UEFA Champions League rout over PSV Eindhoven. The 17-year-old netted The Gunners' second goal, after combining with fellow Hale-End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly. Thomas Tuchel will name his first England squad on March 13, ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Wembley against Albania and Latvia.

Nwaneri perhaps most exciting young player in Europe, should go straight into Tuchel’s squad - Cole

Video credit: TNT Sports

Joe Cole insisted that Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri is ready to receive an England senior call-up.

The Gunners overcame recent scoring problems to claim a 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in their UEFA Champions League last 16 first-leg tie on Tuesday.

Among Arsenal’s six goalscorers in Eindhoven was 17-year-old Nwaneri, who combined with fellow Hale-End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly to net Arsenal’s second.

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Nwaneri, who has featured on 27 occasions for The Gunners this term, is profiting from long-term injuries to

And TNT Sports pundit Cole believes the teenager has not only seized his opportunity at Arsenal, but also done enough to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad.

"Nwaneri is going to be an absolute genius," Cole said. "He’s the most exciting young footballer at the moment in England and maybe even in Europe.

Nwaneri rifles Arsenal into two-goal lead against PSV

Video credit: TNT Sports

"What he’s doing is incredible. When Saka and Martinelli come back I'd move him inside and play a double 10 with Odegaard. I think that’s where he’ll end up."

Cole added: "He’s that good that he doesn’t need the U21s, in my opinion. I think he’s that good. He needs to go straight in with Thomas Tuchel. Use him, get him around the players, bring him off the bench.

"He’s an England player for the next 10 or 15 years. Wonderful talent. Great mentality

"He’s at the right club at the right time. I’d be stunned if Thomas Tuchel didn’t say, ‘I want to have a look at him from close quarters and bring him into this squad.’"

Tuchel is set to name his first squad as England head coach on March 13, with the Three Lions scheduled to play a pair of World Cup qualifiers at Wembley against Albania and Latvia later that month.

Arsenal back scoring?

Arsenal had entered the Champions League encounter with PSV having drawn blanks in three of their last four games in all competitions.

Yet goals from Jurrien Timber, Nwaneri and Mikel Merino meant they were three up before the break.

Their 7-1 advantage at the half-way stage of the tie appears unassailable, and a quarter-final with the winner of the Madrid derby awaits.

"It’s massive," Karen Carney told TNT Sports. "The narrative going into the game was, ‘Why didn’t they bring that striker given the injuries?’

"They answered it particularly in this competition tonight. Different goal scorers. They can pretty much chill in the second leg now and rest some players. But overall, away from home it was a fantastic performance from Arsenal tonight."

Cole added: "Any win can change things. Momentum in football can change things.

"Arsenal are coming out of a very difficult run. They have been miles off it relative to the standards they’ve set themselves.

"So tonight’s a massive plus for them. Any away game in the Champions League is difficult so it's an incredible performance from them."

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