Alan Shearer raves about ‘potential superstar’ as Match of the Day pundit is left impressed by ‘best player on the pitch’ in Arsenal’s win over Leicester

Alan Shearer was particularly impressed by the performance of one Arsenal player as the Gunners managed to overcome Leicester and keep the title race alive.

Mikel Arteta‘s men struggled in the absence of key stars at the King Power Stadium but claimed the three points as Mikel Merino came off the bench to bag a brace in the final 10 minutes.

Arsenal offered little going forward until that point but one man stood above the rest and he was the creator of the first goal.

Ethan Nwaneri may only be 17 but he asserted his reputation as one of the most exciting youngster in world football with a dynamic display before putting in an inch-perfect cross for Merino to head home the opener.

The Premier League‘s all-time top scorer Shearer liked what he saw and was full of praise on Match of the Day.

’17 years of age… a potential superstar,’ he said. ‘He was, without doubt, the bright spark for Arsenal. 

Etan Nwaneri (right) was the best player on the pitch at the King Power Stadium

Nwaneri was the only spark in Arsenal’s attack for much of the game and assisted the opener

‘Even when things weren’t going for them, which were large parts of the game, he was the one that was probing, he was the one putting crosses in and having pops at goal.

‘This [early Declan Rice chance] is almost identical to the cross that they score from. He [Nwaneri] just shifts the ball onto the left foot and he whips it in but Declan Rice can’t quite get on the end of it. 

‘Again, he gets the ball and works it onto his left foot. This time he cuts inside and has a pop at goal but hits the crossbar.

‘But he can and does also like to down that right-hand side. If you show him too much room, if you invite him to go down there then that’s fine, he will do that as well. He was the best player on the pitch today, so lively.’

Joe Cole, covering the game for TNT Sports, added: ‘These touches he produces, in and around the box, little tiny touches… I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi. 

‘I’ve said it, I’ve said it. I don’t want to put any more pressure on the kid’s shoulders. I’m sure he’d deal with it’