Joe Cole was very impressed by Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri after the 17-year-old shone in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Leicester City.

Nwaneri played the full 90 minutes at the King Power Stadium, where he completed more dribbles and attempted more shots than any other player.

He also provided an assist for the first of Mikel Merino’s two goals.

Former Chelsea winger Cole and ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown were both full of praise for Nwaneri as they spoke on TNT Sports after the final whistle.

Cole went as far as likening Nwaneri to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.

Presenter Lynsey Hipgrave began the conversation by asking Keown and Cole: ‘If he’s this good at 17, how good can he be?’

Keown replied: ‘This young man, I thought he was immense. Coming in off the line, he’s so confident. He steps into the ball, he’s aggressive when he travels with it.

‘He’s so assured. For such a young man, he steps in and makes the right pass. His decision-making is different class.’

Cole added: ‘Yeah, decision-making. He’s a strong little thing as well. Left foot, right foot. You can’t mark him because he can go both ways.’

Reviewing footage of Nwaneri’s close ball control, Cole continued: ‘These touches he produces, in and around the box, little tiny touches… I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi. I’ve said it, I’ve said it.