Chris Sutton: Why Chido Obi reminds me of Wayne Rooney – and how Ethan Nwaneri is already the most reliable striker in Arsenal

What struck me the most about Chido Obi against Fulham in the FA Cup is that he seemed to play with total freedom where you feel like the others, like Rasmus Hojlund, seem to play with the weight of the world on their shoulders.

There is no doubt that Obi seems a little raw, which is normal at 17 with only 73 minutes of action from the first team in its name so far, but it looks extremely physical.

The only thing for me at 17 was that I always developed physically but Obi, whoever can build Calvin Bassey out of the ball as he did, you also remove your hat. Physically, he seems to be there and then he also looks explosive.

There are certain elements of his game on which I work hard, but going to the level of the Premier League, at the highest level, and being able to face physically is a big problem. He faced this aspect very well. Now the challenge for him is to refine his skills as much as anything.

He looks intrepid for me. This is what you get young players because they have not been part of this team in difficulty.

I think that Manchester United fans are looking for someone or something to hang on at the moment and even if we should not go over, since he finds his feet, he is incredibly exciting as a perspective.

In my first years in the old first division, I felt the most important thing from my point of view was to feel that I could face the level and belong there. It was important, I felt, that you have the feeling that the level did not exceed me and that it was ok, you are supposed to be there.

I was in the Norwich City youth team, then in the reserves, and there was a path to the first team. The injuries arrive and you have the opportunity alongside the players you watched on television like Obi now lives. Then you face yourself and think “Blimey, I can face” and you trust.

I think of the first Wayne Rooney match for Everton against Arsenal when he came and the only visible thing was how strong and robust and powerful. It was revealing.

Obi is not Rooney at the moment, of course, but you have to face and the opposite defenders often look at young players who come by thinking that they can dominate them physically.

But Obi showed me enough threats to me in his cameos, especially against Fulham, so that people sit and take note. If the defenders present themselves against him now, they certainly do not take it for granted.

Look when Obi came against Fulham and everything was so natural and that he did not think too much; He played as if he would normally do it for young people and with a freedom which he shows with his own age group. Then everything comes out: the rhythm, the power, its brutality.

In addition, defenders do not know what type of player it is. I am sure everyone will be seated and will be aware of him now with managers who feed in information on his threat.

There remains something of an unknown quantity that could work in its favor.

United is looking for something to hang on and perhaps this season that is obi. There is always the danger of too much waiting to be put to a young player. But he showed moments.

When he drove Lower, you thought “Blimey, Wow”. To make someone ride and released Muscle Bassey, you do not see it too often and he is only 17 years old, so you think, imagine where he will be with another development from two to three years.

The key now with Manchester United and the way they played this season is that they don’t want to bring down the natural element of his game. This was what was exciting at home. It was new, fresh and no one knew what to expect. You just don’t want it to be driven by the discomfort that happens to United.

Ethan Nwaneri is only 17 years old, but right now, he is the most reliable arsenal.

It is a short period of time to judge him, but he looks like a player who went to the side of Mikel Arteta with this confidence, this arrogance – which I think you need – but more importantly the way he sees and reads the game. He has been able to be for years.

He can play in any position along the forehead, but Martin Odegaard’s position is actually his best position that tells me, which is really interesting because he tells you that he has a huge football brain.

The other evening in Eindhoven, similar to Obi in this, his physique stood out at such a young age.

I think it is a huge thing at 17 and have this physique and this rhythm and this rhythm. He has a huge football brain.

I always think that when you are in one of these central areas, you need to have this awareness of everything that is happening around you. You don’t play as wide players on the sidelines, and that tells you about it.

When I was a young Norwich player, I was really full. No one could tell me anything when you have this bravado. For him, to make him and impose himself as he did, I think it’s quite rare.

The player he reminds me of my youth was Ryan Giggs when he entered the Manchester United team. He was absolutely intrepid.

Now, who knows if Nwaneri will have the career that Giggs continued to compare him to someone who entered and absolutely gave this impression that they were from the rooster to such a young age and had this understanding of the game, it is a good comparison.

People say that the marking goals are the most difficult thing in the game, but there is an argument to say how many players have this ability to overcome defenders and to be a dribbler?

He has a good mix to his game that he can do everything: slide a pass, create an opportunity, take a man on a against one and this understanding to go both directions. If you become a pony in a turn and always try to enter the best defenders, try reading this and you become easy to play.

In Eindhoven against the PSV, Nwaneri destroyed the loan of Manchester United, Tyrell Malacia.

Malacia is still a good defender even if it did not work at Old Trafford and yet Nwaneri made him hear if, so ordinary. It would have been impressive if he was 25 or 26 years old and in the age of the age of his career. Doing it at 17 was incredible.

The other thing I really like at home is first half against PSV that they were ahead and the most important player of PSV is a guy called Noah Lang, and he has a good defender to Jurrien Timber behind him.

Lang was quite silent in the evening, but he had a few gusts before half-time and the work of Nwaneri and the return carrier from 50 to 60 meters to double with the wood stood out. This is what players should do, but it continues to be so impressive to see this desire and this understanding on the defensive side of the game.

There are young players who enter the first team and they want to show the manager how skillful 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 who really stands out.

The challenge for him is now his application and not letting things go to his head.

The fact that he has an understanding, can play inside or dribble and play outside, you become quite unstoppable.

The teams will learn that you have to double on him. No matter how experienced your backwards are, there are players like Nwaneri who can destroy anyone in a situation. There will be a level of respect through the Premier League and in European competition, they have seen enough Nwaneri to know that they must be careful.

It is that of the past few weeks which has played as if it were not under pressure or chained by the pressure of a title race. It was their reference.