Criticised former Gunner helps Ethan Nwaneri adapt to England u21s | OneFootball

Former Arsenal academy winger Omari Hutchinson has been making a concerted effort to help Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri step up to the England u21s, according to a report.

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Former Arsenal youngster Omari Hutchinson hasn’t always been popular with Gunners fans, having left the club in 2022 to join local rivals Chelsea. He rejected a new contract to make the move.

It didn’t help when Hutchinson’s brother publicly hit back at Arsenal fans last year, claiming Omari had been proven right that there was no pathway to the first team under Mikel Arteta.

Of course, Hutchinson didn’t really break into the first team at Chelsea either, only making two substitute appearances before leaving for Ipswich Town.

Meanwhile, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have joined Bukayo Saka in progressing from the academy to a regular first-team role. And it’s Nwaneri’s recent progress that might help to mend some fences between Hutchinson and Arsenal supporters.

Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter

As well as stepping up to the Arsenal first team, Nwaneri was also promoted from the England u19s to the u21s this month, scoring on his first start on Monday.

The Daily Mail report that Hutchinson has been a big part of making Nwaneri feel welcome, acting as a mentor and confidant for the Arsenal man during this week’s u21 camp. The two are close in part because of a friendship between their dads.

“The main thing was keeping him in the group and not being shy,” Hutchinson said of Nwaneri. “I’ve tried to look after him and advise him but he’s so mature. I just told him ‘you’re that guy, just keep working’.”

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Hutchinson played a minor role in Nwaneri’s full-debut goal for the England u21s, making a run to draw defenders away and open up space for the Arsenal man to score.

Combine that with Hutchinson’s goals against Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur this season, and perhaps he might start winning back a few fans at his old club.