Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal record-breaker Ethan Nwaneri could be the Gunners’ answer to Phil Foden

Rio Ferdinand has praised Arsenal’s record-breaking Ethan Nwaneri by claiming he could be the Gunners’ answer to Man City star Phil Foden.

Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history on Sunday in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Brentford.

At 15 years, 5 months and 28 days, Nwaneri beat the record previously held by Harvey Elliott when he came on as a substitute in stoppage time for Fabio Vieira.

Rio Ferdinand has compared Nwaneri to being in the same league as Man City’s Phil Foden

The midfielder was only called up to training with the first team for the first time on Saturday, but got his debut from Mikel Arteta at the Brentford Community Stadium.

Former England defender Ferdinand believes the teenager has all the means to become a Premier League star and compared him to City champion Foden.

There is no doubt about this boy’s ability,” Ferdinand told his FIVE Youtube Channel.

“I’ve heard from coaches who are at the club and from several people in the game at that level that there aren’t many 15 year olds in the last 10 years or so who have the ability this man has shown on a consistent basis .

‘We are talking about the Fodens of this world. At fifteen he is on the same level as they talk.’

Foden has become a Man City star since making his debut for the club in 2017 at the age of 17

Foden made his debut for City in November 2017 when he came off the bench at the age of 17 in the club’s Champions League game against Feyenoord.

A month later, he became the youngest English player to start a Champions League game in City’s 2-1 defeat to Shaktar Donetsk.

The City playmaker has since become the youngest Premier League winner in the league’s history and was twice named PFA Young Player of the Year – also earning 16 caps for England.

The historic moment came in stoppage time when Nwaneri replaced Fabio Vieira for Arsenal

Foden has won four Premier League titles and has been named PFA Young Player of the Year twice

Born in March 2007, a full year after Arsenal moved to the Emirates Stadium, Nwaneri was unable to get ready in the same dressing room as his Gunners’ team-mates due to child protection issues.

The England U-18 star is the first player born in 2007 to be in one of Europe’s top five leagues and is Arsenal’s youngest ever player in any competition.

The win over Brentford returned Arsenal to the top of the league table, one point ahead of Manchester City and Tottenham. They return to action after the international break when they host the Spurs in the North London derby.