‘Like he’s playing at Old Trafford’: Arsenal-linked 21-year-old tipped for stardom, Santi Cazorla loves him

Reported Arsenal target Samuel Chukwueze has been praised by fellow Nigeria international Semi Ajayi, recalling a Super Eagles training session with him and saying he’s “next up” for stardom.

Chukwueze has been progressing nicely at Villarreal in recent months, with 30 appearances in all competitions this term yielding four goals and four assists, plus 12 caps for Nigeria and two goals (Transfermarkt).

Last season, meanwhile, the 21-year-old registered double figures for the club, making 47 appearances between the senior team and the B team, with 10 goals and four assists (Transfermarkt).

Arsenal cult hero and Yellow Submarine ace Santi Cazorla is fond of Chukwueze and previously confirmed that the Emirates Stadium side had been in touch regarding the young prodigy (Marca).

More recently, in an Instagram Q&A for La Liga, Cazorla was asked who he thought was the fastest player he had shared a pitch with, to which he swiftly replied: “Chukwueze”.

Ajayi, who plays for Championship side West Brom, is the latest to wax lyrical about Chukwueze in an Instagram Live session, as reported by All Nigeria Soccer.

“Heis a wonderkid, he’s next up if you don’t know about him,” said Ajayi. “I remember his first training session with Nigeria, he’s got called up and I have never seen him before, never played with him before.

“We were playing 11 v 11, the coach has picked the first team that’s going to play, we were preparing for South Africa and he wanted us to play three at the back, normally we play four at the back.

“I’m on the B team, not in the starting lineup, and Samuel Chukwueze is in my team and he destroyed the whole first team on his own, just give him the ball, he kept destroying them to the point the coach changed his mind, that he doesn’t think it’s three at the back, it won’t work.

“We went back to a four for the second half and he destroyed them again. These times, the pitch that we were on, one pitch in Asaba, the pitch is terrible, anyone that plays for Nigeria would tell you how bad the pitch is, you cannot dribble on it.

“Chukwueze got the ball at his feet, dribbling around people as it’s nothing, like he’s playing at Old Trafford. That day I said who is this kid? He has been in the squad ever since and doing well in La Liga as well.”

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Chukwueze is a high-calibre attacking prodigy, a dazzling winger with an eye for goal who, very much like the legendary Arjen Robben, loves nothing more than cutting inside from the right onto his favoured left foot before lining up shots.

Funnily enough, Arsenal actually had the opportunity to sign him for just £4million back in 2015, months after Nigeria’s victory at the Under-17 World Cup, but the move ended up falling through as the Gunners reportedly spurned the chance (Guardian Nigeria).

Chukwueze ended up joining Villarreal, and is now reportedly valued at £60million by the La Liga club, according to the Daily Mail – but even at that higher sum, he’d certainly be a worthy signing for Mikel Arteta and co, particularly if they’re able to raise funds through player sales.

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