Arsenal wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri has revealed Chelsea legend Eden Hazard as one of his football idols.
This comes as a surprising admission given the fierce London rivalry between the two clubs.
In a recent interview with FootballJOE, the 17-year-old attacker named Hazard alongside global icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, crediting the Belgian for shaping aspects of his playing style.
“Eden Hazard, definitely. Definitely an attacker that inspired me,” Nwaneri said. “Just the way that he could take a game by the scruff of the neck.”
Nwaneri, who has already broken into Arsenal’s first team and made headlines as the Premier League’s youngest-ever debutant at 15, is known for his confident, direct approach, traits reminiscent of Hazard in his prime.
Despite his admiration, the teenager clarified that he doesn’t seek to imitate anyone in particular:
“I wouldn’t say I mould my game, but I can take bits from everyone and add it to my own game. Because I think the main thing about playing well is being yourself.”
Having joined Arsenal’s academy at just eight years old, Nwaneri has risen rapidly through the ranks, forging a strong on-field understanding with fellow prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly.
