Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri has named Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice as the two most important players in the current Arsenal squad.

Nwaneri, who is enjoying a breakthrough season under Mikel Arteta, believes the two England internationals have played a pivotal role in Arsenal's campaign so far.

Despite failing to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title, the Gunners are enjoying an impressive run in the UEFA Champions League, highlighted by a stunning 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the 18-year-old midfielder said:

“That’s testament to the way that the players treat us. They treat us like we’re men, ever since we first came in. They’ve treated us well, like we’re part of the team, so that’s just how we feel now.

“Declan (Rice) and Bukayo (Saka) are very close to us. They help us out, they keep us grounded, they lift us up when we need it as well. They’ve been brilliant.

“It’s just personal stuff and how they dealt with it when they were first coming up, and how they dealt with the pressure, and maybe when they didn’t play well, or when they did do well, and just managing that.

“I wouldn’t say nervous (joining the first team), but there was a different pressure that I was feeling. I saw that as a good thing—it shows that I care. I was fine with all that sort of stuff.”

WDN