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‘It’s like Messi… there I said it’ – Pundits rave about Arsenal ace Nwaneri as Shearer dubs him ‘potential superstar’

PUNDITS have been left raving about Ethan Nwaneri after his masterclass for Arsenal against Leicester.

The 17-year-old bagged an assist as his side won 2-0 thanks to a brace from sub Mikel Merino.

Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal celebrates scoring a goal.
AP
Pundits have lined up to praise Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri[/caption]
Lionel Messi waving to fans.
AFP
One has even compared to the legendary Lionel Messi[/caption]

Nwaneri has now scored or assisted four Premier League goals before the age of 18.

That puts him in an esteemed group alongside legends Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Cesc Fabregas.

While during the game itself, Nwaneri controlled proceedings with four shots, six dribbles and 32 passes.

He even put in a strong defensive contribution with three successful tackles and 12 duels won.

And now, pundits are lining up to sing Nwaneri’s praises.

Perhaps the boldest comment came from Joe Cole, who compared the teenager to Lionel Messi.

Cole said on TNT Sport: “These touches he produces, in and around the box, tiny little touches.

“I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi. I’ve said it.

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“I don’t want to put any more pressure on his shoulders. I’m sure he’d deal with it.”

Meanwhile, Alan Shearer lauded Nwaneri’s masterclass on Match of the Day.

Joe Cole presenting for TNT Sports.
Alamy
Joe Cole reckons Nwaneri can handle the pressure[/caption]
Alan Shearer at a Champions League match.
Getty
Alan Shearer feels Nwaneri played his heart out against Leicester[/caption]

The Newcastle icon said: “17 years of age… a potential superstar. He was, without doubt, the bright spark for Arsenal.

“Even when things weren’t going for them, which were large parts of the game, he was the one that was probing, he was the one putting crosses in and having pops at goal.

“He [Nwaneri] just shifts the ball onto the left foot and he whips it in but Declan Rice can’t quite get on the end of it. 

“Again, he gets the ball and works it onto his left foot. This time he cuts inside and has a pop at goal but hits the crossbar.

“But he can and does also like to down that right-hand side. 

“If you show him too much room, if you invite him to go down there then that’s fine, he will do that as well. 

“He was the best player on the pitch today, so lively.”

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‘It breaks all rules in football, absolute madness’ – Gary Neville slams Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd tactics in Spurs clash

GARY NEVILLE had some less-than-kind words for Manchester United’s first-half performance against Tottenham.

The injury-ravaged Red Devils still managed to field a starting XI worth £448million, but were second best in the first 45 minutes in North London.

Gary Neville holding a Sky Sports microphone.
Getty
Gary Neville savaged the ’embarrassing’ midfield plan of Man Utd[/caption]
Casemiro of Manchester United reacting during a Premier League match.
Alamy
Casemiro was paired with Bruno Fernandes in midfield against Tottenham[/caption]
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Alamy
But Neville claimed the selection ‘broke all rules of football’[/caption]

James Maddison‘s goal was the difference maker as he reacted first to Lucas Bergvall‘s rebounded shot after Andre Onana could not push it far enough away.

Spurs had five shots to United’s eight, though the home side had three on target compared to the visitors two.

But Neville was particularly critical of the way Ruben Amorim had set up his midfield pair of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.

Speaking on co-commentary for Sky Sports, he blasted the midfield plan as “embarrassing”.

He explained: “The distance between the two central midfield players, see where Casemiro is and where Bruno Fernandes is, that cannot be right.

“It breaks all rules in football. Absolute madness.”

The former defender added: “United may win today and may score goals but I have to say that the structure of the team is awful.

“The gaps in that midfield between Fernandes and Casemiro.

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“That’s a tactic, they’ve been asked to do that, Bruno’s been asked to come out to this side and it isn’t right.

“Bruno Fernandes is playing right wing, the two of them in midfield are split, it’s embarrassing.

“You wouldn’t see this in Under-9s or Under-10s football.”

Despite the criticism, the Red Devils arguably should have gone in at the break level.

Alejandro Garnacho had been played into the penalty area on his favoured right foot with only the goalkeeper to beat just 11 yards out from goal.

However, the Argentine, who has not scored in the league under Amorim skied his shot miles over the bar.

It compounds a worrying stat for the 20-year-old that he has the worst big chance conversion rate of any player in the Premier League to have had at least 10 of them, with only two of his 14 scored – a rate of just 14 per cent.

Amorim named EIGHT teenagers – including seven academy stars – on his bench with 12 senior stars out of contention.

Commentary

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Stephen Maguire PUNCHES table in anger after threatening to ‘wreck the place’ in tense Welsh Open snooker final

STEPHEN Maguire could not hide his frustrations during a tense Welsh Open final.

The Scot, 43, was facing off against Mark Selby at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

Snooker player leaning over a snooker table.
Stephen Maguire can’t hid his disappointment after a poor positional shot

At 2-1 down in frames, Maguire made a costly mistake that cost him the frame against The Jester from Leicester.

On Fire was losing the frame 30-24, when he played a poor positional shot that left him in a sticky situation.

After analysing the situation, he was forced to play for safety instead of going for a pot.

But, before he played his shot, Maguire banged the top of the table as he rued his bad effort.

To make matters worse, he left the door open for Selby who went on to clear the table with a break of 78.

Maguire is back in a ranking final after a five year wait.

After beating Ali Carter in the semi-final, he admitted he could struggle to keep his emotions in check if the final against Selby begins to slip away from him.

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“Who knows what to expect,” he told the BBC.

“In hindsight Mark has probably played better than me all week, I’ve been scraping my way through just winning matches somehow.

“I’m just hoping that I can find some form somehow and play the way that I should. Right now I’m not thinking about the rankings, I just want that title.

“I don’t think either of us played that well, but I just thought that I wasn’t going to win that with the way things were going. I couldn’t quite finish it off and when I did, little things were happening. I’m just glad I got over the line.

“I found it easy to keep my composure because I was playing him (Carter). He was cracking up, the rest was getting thrown about, extensions were getting thrown about. I thought, is that the way I act? I think I better change if that’s the way that I act.”

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Man, 45, dies after being restrained by cops rushing to ‘stop child being assaulted’ inside house

A MAN who resisted arrest after police rushed to “stop a child being assaulted” inside a house has died.

Officers had been called to High Street in South Norwood, London, at 1.27am on Sunday following reports a child was being assaulted.

After gaining entry into the property, police found the 45-year-old man suffering from a medical emergency.

Police say he was very agitated and was actively resisting against officers.

The 45-year-old was later restrained and paramedics were called.

However, once paramedics arrived and he was transported into an ambulance, the man became seriously unwell.

Although he was rushed to hospital, he later died despite the best efforts of medical professionals.

T/Commander Andy Brittain, who is overseeing the response to this incident, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died.

“We will ensure they are fully supported.

“I know the community in South Norwood will want to be reassured that the incident was handled appropriately.”

They continued: “The IOPC is conducting an investigation to provide that independent scrutiny.

“We must also acknowledge the impact that incidents like this have on the officers involved.

“In this case they were responding to an emergency call involving a child in danger and on arrival at the scene, were met with a very challenging situation.

“No officer ever wants to be involved in an incident where someone loses their life and we will ensure they get all the support they need.”

Metropolitan Police confirmed that a referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and that the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards was aware of the case.

In a statement, the Met said: “A referral in these circumstances is not an indication that officers are believed to have done anything wrong.

“It is a mandatory step when anyone dies or suffers serious injury following contact with the police or while in their custody.”

South Norwood High Street, UK, with clock tower.
The man died after police were called to a property on High Street, South Norwood, following reports of a child being assaulted
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Seven weird and wacky hot cross bun flavours hitting shelves ahead of Easter

NOTHING says Easter like a hot cross bun with some quirky and fun varieties hitting shelves this year.

Shoppers have an abundance of weird and wonderful flavours to choose from including apple crumble and lemon curd.

Hot cross bun on a dark background.
Getty
Supermarkets are battling it out to offer the wackiest hot cross bun flavours this year[/caption]

Other retailers are selling salted caramel buns or strawberries and cream varieties.

We’ve rounded up some of the standout options on offer to shoppers looking to indulge this Easter.

M&S – Lemon curd-filled, £3

Four lemon curd filled hot cross buns.
OCADO
M&S has caused a stir with their new lemon curd-filled hot cross buns[/caption]

M&S is known for its indulgent sweet treats, but has caused a real stir with its extremely lemony hot cross buns, new to shelves this year.

The retailer describes them as “fluffy, lemony, with an oozy, zingy lemon curd filling”.

Shoppers can pick up a pack on Ocado for £3 while prices vary in M&S stores.

There has been plenty of reaction to the citrussy buns on Facebook, with one customer branding them “amazing”.

Tesco – Rhubarb and custard, £1.80

Package of four rhubarb and custard hot cross buns.
Tesco
The Tesco hot cross buns can be picked up online and in-store[/caption]

Tesco‘s rhubarb and custard hot cross buns are ideal for anyone who’s a fan of the classic British dessert.

A pack of four comes in at £1.80 or Clubcard customers can get two for £3, working out at £1.50 per pack.

You can sign up to the Clubcard scheme for free via Tesco’s website.

Shoppers can buy the buns in-store or online, with them sparking quite the discussion on social media.

Some customers are keen to try the new creation while others aren’t so keen on the idea of the traditional recipe being tampered with.

Co-op – Apple crumble, £2

Package of Co-op Irresistible Sweetly Spiced Apple Crumble Hot Cross Buns.
Co-op
Shoppers can pick up a pack of four for £2[/caption]

Another variety based on a classic British dessert, Co-op has these in stores for £2 for a pack of four.

The buns combine sultanas with candied apple pieces, apple compote and cinnamon crumble on top.

Some shoppers are keen to get hold of them with one pronouncing on Facebook: “Now these are me!”.

But others are sceptical, with one not convinced they have much flavour.

Asda – Tiramisu, £1.43

Package of four tiramisu hot cross buns.
Asda
Asda’s hot cross buns are the cheapest out of the quirky ones we found[/caption]

Coffee lovers will be keen to bag these “exceptional” hot cross buns based on the classic Italian pudding.

The pack of four will set you back £1.43.

The sweet buns combine dark chocolate pieces with Brazilian coffee powder and mascarpone cheese for an indulgent bite.

Shoppers are keen to give the themed breaded treats a go, with one saying they would “get right on them” on their next trip to Asda.

Sainsbury’s – Chocolate and salted caramel, £1.80

Package of four chocolate and salted caramel hot cross buns.
Sainsbury's
These Sainsbury’s hot cross buns are made with sourdough[/caption]

Sainsbury’s‘ Taste the Difference chocolate and salted caramel hot cross buns are on sale for £1.80.

The buns are made with sourdough and topped with dark chocolate chunks, caramel fudge and brown sugar for “extra indulgence”.

One shopper on Facebook branded them “really tasty” but another said the concept was “totally silly” and “too commercial”.

M&S – Cheesy, £2

Package of four extremely cheesy hot cross buns.
OCADO
M&S has launched savoury cheese hot cross buns[/caption]

Failing to stick with the sweet theme, M&S’ cheesy hot cross buns are perfect if you’re looking for a savoury morning or afternoon snack.

The soft buns, costing £2 per four-pack or £3.50 for two on Ocado, come loaded with chunks of Red Leicester and Cheedar cheese.

Shoppers are divided over the quirky twist on the classic version though.

One on Facebook branded them their “absolute fave” while another simply posted a sick person emoji, making their feelings towards the buns quite clear.

Tesco – Strawberries and cream, £1.80

Package of four Tesco Finest strawberries and clotted cream hot cross buns.
TESCO
Tesco has a range of wacky hot cross buns on offer this year[/caption]

Tesco has also launched these Finest strawberries and cream hot cross buns as part of its Easter range this year.

Shoppers can pick up a pack for £1.80 or two for £3 if they’ve got a Clubcard.

The sweet buns combine clotted cream, strawberry jam and strawberries making for a quintessential British bite.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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Man Utd ‘in for 18 months of pain’ predicts Redknapp as Sky Sports pundit says ‘they need to get rid and change culture’

MANCHESTER UNITED are set for “18 months of pain”, according to Jamie Redknapp.

And he believes there needs to be a serious overhaul of the culture at Old Trafford to turn the mess around.

Jamie Redknapp in a Sky Sports interview.
Sky Sports
Jamie Redknapp had his say on the current state at Manchester United[/caption]
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim leaving the pitch.
Rex
Ruben Amorim has struggled to have the positive impact he would have wanted[/caption]

Ruben Amorim has struggled since replacing Erik ten Hag in November, losing eight of his first 20 matches in charge as United sit 15th in the table going into the trip to Tottenham.

He has also binned Marcus Rashford, Antony and Tyrell Malacia out on loan while the club’s woes run far deeper than just on-field issues.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to sort out the financial chaos – but his methods of increasing ticket prices, job redundancies and staff perk cuts are proving unpopular.

However, Redknapp gave his backing that Amorim can be the manager in the dugout to help lead the transformation with the right people above him.

But he warned it will not be a comfortable ride for anyone connected to United – with plenty of players needing to be pushed out of the exit door along the way.

The Sky Sports pundit said ahead of the Spurs game, in which United were forced to put eight untried teenagers on the bench: “For what it’s worth on Amorim, I like him. I think he’s got something about him. And I totally get the performances haven’t been good enough. 

“But I actually like what he’s doing more off the field than actually what he’s doing on the pitch. Because that club needs a change of culture. 

“We’ve spoken about how it works. Get people like Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho that have left and one or two others who have had a mention about leaving. 

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“Now, if they’re not going to buy into having a good way of living and coming in and training correctly and being involved and helping the group and create a winning mentality, they’ve got to be surplus to requirements.

“I see Manchester United as having still much more pain, even 18 months more pain, because they need to get rid. 

“Whoever’s been in charge or even managers have gone so far and then they’re panicked and then they’ve gone and bought 30-year-old players that aren’t going to maybe take the club any further forward. I think now they have to take their time. 

“They’re trying to get… Jermain [Defoe] mentioned getting the best in class. People like Jason Wilcox, they’ve got the guy from Manchester City, the CEO there [Omar Berrada]. They’re trying to do things slowly and I think that’s how they have to do it.”

Amorim has not been afraid to show his ruthless attitude during his time in charge – in more ways than one.

He exiled £325,000-a-week academy graduate Rashford – even publicly slamming him by saying he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach – and declared this is the “worst United team in history”.

But despite his difficult start in terms of results and becoming the quickest United manager in history to reach five home Premier League defeats, Amorim refuses to budge from his 3-4-3 system.

And Redknapp feels like that lack of adaptability could be costly.

He added: “I like what he’s trying to achieve but it might take a bit more time than what you’d like.

“You know, I think he’s got to be more flexible in the system. 

“When I hear a manager having one system, that worries me because you’ve got to adapt in game each time you’re playing against another team.

“But I think Manchester United will get there. It’s just going to take a bit of time but they have to go all in on it. 

“They can’t just go, ‘We’re going to panic now and go buy more average players’, because the players right now aren’t good enough to produce the performances that Manchester United want, hence why they’re in this position.”

Manchester United substitutes on the bench.
United’s bench was packed with kids
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United looking dejected.
Getty
United are 15th in the Premier League table before facing Tottenham[/caption]

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