Ethan Nwaneri misses out on Arsenal win as Saka claims All-Star MVP

Arsenal midfielder and Super Eagles prospect Ethan Nwaneri missed out on his side's demolition of the All-Star team of Major League Soccer.

Former Super Eagles prospect Bukayo Saka ended up as the MVP of the match, which saw Arsenal win 5-0. That was the most comfortable win in all their years touring America and facing off against the MLS All-Stars.

Meanwhile, Nwaneri continued to wait for more opportunities to break into the Gunners' first team and will be hoping to feature in Arsenal's next pre-season games.

🚨 Amario Cozier-Duberry is the only academy player to make the trip to the USA, with Reuell Walters, Ethan Nwaneri & Myles Lewis-Skelly not included. It is understood that this was communicated to them prior to the training camp in Germany & the trio will now likely travel with… pic.twitter.com/DIfJNXeg5b

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 16, 2023

Saka shines, Ethan Nwaneri watches from afar as Kai Havertz scores first Arsenal goal

Arsenal's pre-season tour in America has been all about one man: Kai Havertz.

The German swapped Chelsea in the West of London for Arsenal in the North of London. Fans have expressed mixed feelings over his signing and continued to do so as he featured for the club in pre-season.

He was not in the starting lineup which Mikel Arteta put together to face the best players from the MLS after a skills challenge which was done to raise funds for charity. He came on for MVP Saka while Ethan Nwaneri watched from afar.

Saka created problems for the MLS All-Stars managed by former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, which in turn created the opportunities that Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard finished in the third and 28th minutes of the match.

Saka would be taken off at halftime for focus man Havertz as Nwaneri watched on. The German would wrap up the defeat of the MLS all stars with a superb strike in the 89th minute and the Gunners would get loud cheers for their performance.

Ethan Nwaneri continues his training at the London Colney Centre as the Arsenal USA squad prepares to face Manchester United in New York. Arsenal will then take on Barcelona in Los Angeles to wrap up their US pre-season tour.

Ethan Nwaneri stands out for his physicality on a men's pitch despite that fact that he just turned 16.

Combine that with the fact that he operates in a low centre of gravity, is ridiculously technical between the lines, & strikes through the ball on both feet..

Musiala-esque. pic.twitter.com/FgHFSE8H3e

— EBL (@EBL2017) July 14, 2023

Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he is going to depend on midfielders a lot this upcoming season. Ethan Nwaneri might be young but his renewal with the club is a good indication of their belief in his ability.

Ethan Nwaneri one of a select few youngsters on Arsenal's pre-season squad

Arteta selected 30 players for his side's pre-season preparations which will see them travel to Germany, USA and back home to England.

Nwaneri was one of three Arsenal U-21 players to be included in the team. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Reuell Walters were the other two who made the cut alongside the Nigeria national football team prospect.

Nwaneri and his U-21 teammates did not make the squad that travelled to the USA but are expected to feature in their final pre-season game against AS Monaco at the Emirates on August 2.

They have already enjoyed some pre-season action after featuring in their match against Watford on July 8 just before travelling to Germany to face Nuremberg, where they also featured.