Nigeria’s hopes of securing Arsenal’s highly-rated youngster Ethan Nwaneri have been handed a major boost after England head coach Thomas Tuchel omitted the teenager from his latest squad, Soccernet.ng reports.

Tuchel, overseeing his first selection as Three Lions manager, has named a 23-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

But despite strong speculation that the in-form Arsenal attacker could earn a senior call-up, Nwaneri was not included in the squad.

The 17-year-old, who turns 18 in a few days, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Arsenal, scoring eight goals and registering one assist in 28 appearances across all competitions.

His performances had reportedly placed him on Tuchel’s radar ahead of the March international window, but the German tactician opted against calling him up.

Instead, Tuchel selected an experienced attacking lineup featuring captain Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), and Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).

Had Nwaneri been included and made his senior debut, he would have been cap-tied to England. His omission leaves the door open for Nigeria, who have long courted the teenager in hopes of persuading him to represent the Super Eagles at the senior level.

Born in Enfield, North London, to Nigerian parents, Nwaneri remains eligible to play for both England and Nigeria.

His father, Obinna ‘Obi’ Nwaneri, hails from Imo State in southeastern Nigeria and moved to the UK many years ago in search of better opportunities.

Football has always been a key part of the Nwaneri household. Obi played a crucial role in shaping his son’s early footballing journey, training both Ethan and his younger brother Emerson in their local park in Islington, just a stone’s throw from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

This hands-on coaching approach helped instill discipline, dedication, and an unwavering work ethic in Ethan—qualities that have propelled him to becoming one of Arsenal’s most exciting young prospects.