What impressed me most about Chido Obi against Fulham in the Copa da FA was that he seemed to play with total freedom, where you feel like others, like Rasmus Hojlund, seems to be playing with the weight of the world on your shoulders.
There is no doubt that Obi looks a bit raw, which is normal at 17, with only 73 minutes of action from the first team in his name so far, but he looks extremely physical.
The only thing for me at 17 was that I was still developing physically, but Obi, anyone who can muscle Calvin Bassey da Ball like him, you also take off your hat. Physically, he looks like he is there and then also looks explosive.
There are certain elements of your game, I’m sure he’s working hard, but getting into the premier League level at the top level and being able to physically deal with is a big deal. He dealt very well in this respect. Now the challenge for him is to refine his skills as much as anything.
He looks fearless to me. This is what you receive from young players, because it was not part of this team in difficulty.
I think Manchester United fans are looking for someone or something to cling now, and although we don’t have to go over, since he’s finding his feet, he’s incredibly exciting as a perspective.
Chido Obi is scheduled to face his former Arsenal at Premier League on Sunday after his departure from Gunners in October 2024
Despite only 73 minutes to the Manchester United senior team, the 17 -year -old proved to be one of the best postponers to Ruben Amorim’s team
His last minutes on the Red Devils shirt occurred during the FA Cup match against Fulham, amid the decision of the club not to register it in the Europa League
In my early years in the old first division, I felt the most important thing in my perspective to feel that I could deal at the level and belonged outside. It was important, I felt that you have the feeling that the level was not beyond me and that’s fine, you must be there.
I was on the youth team in Norwich City, then in reservations, and there was a way for the first team. The injuries come and you have the chance with the players you were watching on television as Obi is experiencing now. So you are facing each other and thinking “fleshy, I can handle” and you have confidence of it.
I think of Wayne Rooney’s first game for Everton against Arsenal when he appeared and the only remarkable thing was how strong, robust, and powerful he was. It was revealing.
Obi is not Rooney now, of course, but you have to deal with the opposing advocates often look at young players who are thinking they can physically master them.
But Obi showed me enough threat in his special appearances, especially against Fulham, so that people feel and pay attention. If advocates face each other now, they will certainly not consider him as guaranteed.
See when Obi entered Fulham and everything was so natural and he was not thinking too much; He was playing as if normally went to young people and with a freedom he shows with his own age group. Then everything comes out: the rhythm, the power, your cross.
Also, advocates are not sure what kind of player he is. I’m sure everyone will be sitting and know you now with managers feeding on information about their threat.
It remains an unknown amount that could work in your favor.
Although he appeared 68 minutes into the FA Cup confrontation, Obi was notably remembered for his contribution to the game, completing the game with a total of three shots
OBI development in the senior team can be beneficial for Ruben Amorim, whose main attackers, Ramus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, are currently fighting
United is looking for something to cling to and maybe this season is Obi. There is always a danger of much expectation to be placed in a young player. But he showed moments.
When he rolled to Bassey, you thought “fleshy, wow.” For someone to roll and get out of the Bassey muscles, you don’t see it very often and he’s only 17, so you think, imagine where he’ll be with another two and three -year development.
The key now with Manchester United and the way they played this season is that they don’t want to overthrow the natural element of their game. This is what was exciting in it. It was new, fresh and no one knew what to expect. You just don’t want him to be dragged by the evil -to be happening at United.
Ethan Nwaneri is only 17 years old, but right now he is the most reliable arsenal.
It’s a short time to judge him, but he looks like a player who entered Mikel Arteta’s side with that confidence, this arrogance – which I think you need – but, more importantly, the way he sees and reads the game. It seems that it has existed for years.
He can play in any position along the front, but Martin Odegaard’s position is actually his best position they told me, which is really interesting because he says he has a tremendous football brain.
The other night in Eindhoven, similar to Obi in this, his physicality stood out at such a young age.
I think it’s a huge thing at 17 and having this physicality and this rhythm and strength. He has a tremendous football brain.
I always think that when you are in one of those central areas, you need to be aware of everything that is happening around you. You are not playing like large players on the touch line, and that says a lot about it.
In the midst of several injuries among the main players, Ethan Nwaneri recommended as a reliable beginner in the team of Mikel Arteta
Wonderkid, 17, had a surprising night in the Netherlands on Tuesday, marking 21 minutes against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday
Nwaneri has started on six occasions in 17 Premier League games this season
When I was a young player in Norwich, I was very full of it. No one could tell me anything when you have this bravata. For him to go and impose himself as he did, I find it quite rare.
The player he reminds me of my youth was Ryan Giggs when he joined the Manchester United team. He was absolutely fearless.
Now, who knows if Nwaneri will have the career Giggs had, but to compare him to someone who came in and absolutely gave the impression that they had the package of themselves at such a young age and had that understanding of the game, is a good comparison.
People say punctuation goals are the hardest thing in the game, but is there an argument to say how many players out there have this ability to pass the defenders and be a dribble?
He has a good mix for the game that he can do everything: slide a pass, create an opportunity, take a man in one against one and this understanding to follow both ways. If you become a trick pony and always try to get into the best advocates, try to read it and you become easy to play.
In Eindhoven against PSV, Nwaneri destroyed the borrowed Manchester United Tyrell Malacia.
Malacia is still a good defender, even though she didn’t work out in Old Trafford and yet Nwaneri made him so common. This would have been impressive if he was 25 or 26 years old and at the height of his career. Doing this at 17 was unbelievable.
The other thing I really like about it is in the first half against PSV that they were ahead and the most important PSV player is a guy named Noah Lang, and he has a good defender in Jurrien Timber behind him.
The young man was previously compared to Lionel Messi after shining in the victory outside Arsenal against Leicester City for the former Chelsea Joe Cole
Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history in September 2022, when he made his debut at 15 and 181 days against Brentford
Lang was quite quiet at night, but he had some explosions before the break and the Nwaneri’s business work and running from 50 to 60 yards to bend with wood stood out. This is what players must do, but it is still so impressive to see this desire and this understanding on the defensive side of the game as well.
There are young players who enter the first team and want to show the manager how skilled they are and what are capable of the ball – but you need to show off from the other side of the game and for Nwaneri that really stands out.
The challenge for him now is his application and not let things go to his head.
The fact that he has the understanding, can play inside or dribble and play outside, you become quite unstoppable.
Teams will learn that you should double about it. No matter how experienced your defender is, there are players out there like Nwaneri who can destroy someone in a unique situation. There will be a level of respect in the Premier League and the European competition that they saw enough of Nwaneri to know that they need to pay close attention.
He is the only one in recent weeks he has played as if under pressure or handcuffed by the pressure of a title race. He has been their goal.
