Nigeria-eligible striker Ethan Nwaneri helps Arsenal U18 side coast to easy 4-1 win over Spurs

NIGERIA-eligible teenager Ethan Nwaneri helped former Arsenal legend Jack Wilshere to win his first competitive game as coach of Gunners U18 team yesterday when they beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspurs 4-1.

After picking up one point from their opening two matches of the new U18 Premier League season, the Gunners were emphatic yesterday afternoon. Nwaneri spearheaded Arsenal's attack right from the off, while Callum Olusesi was named in Tottenham's starting line-up, fresh from making his debut for England U16s.

A third player of Nigerian descent in Damola Ajayi, who is a first year scholar at the Spurs Academy, was named among the Tottenham Hotspur substitutes. Nwaneri and Olusesi are both eligible to play for both England and Nigeria but the English Football Association are believed to be ahead of the Nigerian Football Federation in the race for their services as they have been capped at U16 level by England.

Yesterday, Omari Benjamin produced an excellent individual display in the first half by netting a hat-trick as the Gunners went into the beak 3-0 up. On as a substitute in the 53rd minute, Ajayi pulled one back for the visitors at minute 63 before Nwaneri opened his account for the season in the 70th minute to restore the three-goal lead for Arsenal.