IT WAS BOTH inconsequential and monumental. This oxymoron sums up the debut of Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri on September 18. His team was leading 3-0 and he was brought on only in the 90th minute. But, at 15, Nwaneri became the youngest player ever in the Premier League, widely seen as the toughest league in the world.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the 'exposure trip' was part of a three-year plan to develop Nwaneri, a Nigeria-born England under-16 international who is in Arsenal's under-21 setup. So, it is clear that Nwaneri's rise to stardom is a few years away (if things go well).
However, there are a few “next big things” who have arrived, earlier than expected in many cases. In fact, players born this millennium feature among the most recognised names in world football now. Some of them are set to go to their first World Cup and can have a major impact if called upon. Here are the 10 best young players to keep an eye out for at Qatar 2022: