Joe Cole was very impressed by Arsenal's star, Ethan Nwaneri, after the 17-year-old shone in Saturday's 2-0 victory in Leicester City.
Nwaneri played the full 90 minutes at the King Power Stadium, where he completed more dribbles and tried more shots than any other player.
He also provided assistance for the first of Mikel Merino's two goals.
The former extreme of Chelsea, Cole and the former Arsenal defender, Martin Koeown, were full of compliments for Nwaneri while talking in TNT sports after the final whistle.
Cole came to compare Nwaneri with the Legend of Barcelona Lionel Messi.
The presenter Lynsey Hipgrave began the conversation by asking Keown and Cole: “If it is so good at age 17, how good it can be?”
Ethan Nwaneri (Center) played the full 90 minutes when Arsenal won 2-0 in Leicester City
The sports expert TNT Joe Cole (in the photo) was full of praise for the 17 -year -old Arsenal star
Cole came to compare Nwaneri with the eight -time Ballon D'Or Lionel Messi winner (in the photo)
Keown replied: 'tHis young man thought it was immense. When leaving the line, he has a lot of confidence. He enters the ball, is aggressive when he travels with him.
He is so sure. For such a young man, he enters and makes the right pass. Your decision making is of a different class.
Cole added: 'Yes, decision making. It is also a strong small thing. Left foot, right foot. You can't mark it because you can go both ways.
When reviewing the images of the closed ball control of Nwaneri, Cole continued: 'These touches that produce, in and around the box, small small touches … I do not want to say it, but it is like Messi. I have said it, I have said it.
'I don't want to press more on the child's shoulders. I'm sure I would treat it. But the touches he does when he receives the rear foot ball, attracts the defender, and then a small touch at the top of the foot to avoid it …
'Play with such confidence. It's just a beautiful player.
Nwaneri became the youngest player in the history of the Premier League in September 2022 when he debuted at the age of 15 years and 181 days.
Since then, he has accumulated 17 appearances in the upper flight, scoring three goals.
