What surprised me the most cool Obi against Fulham in the FA Cup was that it seemed to play with complete freedom where you feel like others, like Rasmus Hojlund, they seem to be playing with the weight of the world on their shoulders.
There is no doubt that OBI seems a bit raw, which is normal in 17 with only 73 minutes of action of the first team in his name so far, but seems extremely physical.
The only thing for me at age 17 was that I was still physically developing, but Obi, anyone who can muscle Calvin Bassey out of the ball like him, you also take away your hat. Physically it seems that he is there and then he also looks explosive.
There are certain elements of his game in which I am sure he is working hard, but to go at the level of the Premier League, at the upper level, and be able to face physically it is a big problem. He managed very well in that aspect. Now the challenge for him is to refine his skills as much as anything.
It seems brave. That is what you get from young players because it has not been part of this team with difficulties.
I think that Manchester United fans are looking for someone or something to hold on at this time and, although we do not need to ignore since they are finding their feet, it is incredibly exciting as a prospect.
Chido Obi will face his former Arsenal team in the Premier League on Sunday after his departure from the Gunners in October 2024
Despite only 73 minutes for the Senior Manchester United team, the 17 -year -old has proven to be a main addition to Ruben Amorim team
His last minutes in the Net
In my early years in the ancient First Division, I felt that the most important thing from my perspective was to feel that I could deal with the level and belong there. It was important, I felt, that you had the feeling that the level was not beyond me and it is fine, you are destined to be there.
He was in the Norwich City youth team, then in the reserves, and there was a path to the first team. Injuries arrive and you have the opportunity with the players you had been watching on television as if Obi were experiencing now. Then you face them and think “Blimey, I can face” and get confidence of that.
I think of the first Wayne Rooney game for Everton against Arsenal when it appeared and the only remarkable thing was how strong and powerful it was. He was revealing.
Obi is not Rooney at this time, of course, but you have to face and opponent defenders often look at young players thinking they can physically dominate them.
But Obi showed me enough threat in his cameos, particularly against Fulham, so that people feel and realize. If the defenders face him now, they will certainly not give him for granted.
Look when Obi entered Fulham and everything was so natural and wasn't thinking too much; He was playing as if it were normally on the youth sides and with a freedom that shows with his own age group. Then everything comes out: the rhythm, power, its rawness.
In addition, defenders do not know what type of player is. I am sure that everyone will be sitting and will now know it with the managers who feed on information about their threat.
It is still an unknown amount that could work in its favor.
Although it appeared in the 68th minute of the FA Cup clash, OBI was remarkably remembered for his contribution to the game, concluding the game with a total of three shots
The development of OBI in the senior team could be beneficial for Ruben Amorim, whose main strikers, Ramus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, are currently fighting
United is looking for something to hold on and maybe this season that is Obi. There is always a danger that a young player will be put too much. But moments have been shown.
When he rolled Bassey, you thought “Blimey, Wow.” For someone to go out and go muscle Bassey, you don't see it too often and it's only 17 years old, so you think, imagine where he will be with another two or three years of development.
The key now with Manchester United and the way they have played this season is that they do not want to eliminate the natural element of their game. That was his exciting. It was new, fresh, and nobody knew what to expect. You just don't want it to be dragged by the discomfort that is happening in United.
Ethan Nwaneri is only 17 years old, but at this time it is the most reliable arsenal.
It is a short period of time to judge it, but it looks like a player who has entered the side of Mikel Arteta with that trust, that arrogance, which I think needs, but the most important thing is the way he sees and reads the game. It seems that it has existed for years.
He can play in any position along the front, but Martin Odegaard's position is actually his best position, which is really interesting because he tells you that he has a tremendous football brain.
The other night in Eindhoven, similar to OBI in that, his physicality stood out at such an early age.
I think it is huge at age 17 and have that physicality and that rhythm and strength. It has a tremendous football brain.
I always think that when you are in one of those central areas you need to have that awareness of everything that is happening around you. You are not playing as wide players in the band line, and that tells you a lot about him.
In the midst of several injuries among the key player, Ethan Nwaneri has been recommended as a reliable holder in the Mikel Arteta team
Wonderkid, 17, had a surprising night in the Netherlands on Tuesday, scoring in the 21st minute against PSV Eindhoven
Nwaneri has already started six times of the 17 Premier League games this season
When he was a young player in Norwich, he was really full of that. No one could tell me anything when you have that bravery. For him to go to him and impose as he has done, I think it is quite rare.
The player who reminds me of my youth was Ryan Giggs when he first entered the Manchester United team. It was absolutely brave.
Now, who knows if Nwaneri will have the career that Giggs had to compare it with someone who entered and absolutely gave the impression that they were themselves at themselves at such an early age and that that game understood, is a good comparison.
People say that scoring the goals is the most difficult thing in the game, but there is an argument to say how many players have that ability to move on to the defenders and be a dribler.
He has a good mixture in his game that he can do everything: slide a pass, create an opportunity, take a man in one versus one and that understanding to go both ways. If you become a single trick pony and always try to enter the best defenders, try to read that and become easy to play.
In Eindhoven against the PSV, Nwaneri destroyed the Manchester United Tyrel Malia loan.
Malia is still a good defender, even if he did not work at Old Trafford and, nevertheless, Nwaneri made him see so ordinary. That would have been impressive if he was 25 or 26 years old and were at the best moment of his career. Doing that at age 17 was amazing.
The other thing that I really like about him is in the first half against the PSV that were ahead and the most important PSV player is a guy named Noah Lang, and he has a good defender in Jurrien Timber behind him.
The young man was previously compared to Lionel Messi after shining in Arsenal's victory outside Leicester City by former Chelsea Joe Cole's end
Nwaneri became the youngest player in the history of the Premier League in September 2022 when he debuted at the age of 15 and 181 days against Brentford
Lang was quite quiet at night, but he had a couple of bursts before part-time and Nwaneri's work ethics and running 50-60 yards to double with wood stood out. That is what players should do, but it is still so impressive to see that desire and that understanding of the defensive side of the game too.
There are young players who enter the first team and want to show the manager how skilled they are and what they are capable of with the ball, but you have to show yourself on the other side of the game and for Nwaneri that really stands out.
The challenge for him is now his application and not let things come up with.
The fact that he has understanding, can play inside or dribble and play outside, you become quite unstoppable.
The teams will learn that you have to double it. No matter how experienced your back back, there are players like Nwaneri who can destroy anyone in a unique situation versus one. There will be a level of respect throughout the Premier League and in the European competition that Nwaneri have seen enough to know that they need to pay close attention.
He is the one who has played in recent weeks as if he were not under pressure or chained by the pressure of a race for the title. It has been your option forward.