Borussia Dortmund brought in Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri to fill a particular gap in their squad, and he did so with distinction on his debut.
Their Matchday 2 clash against TSG Hoffenheim provided an early glimpse of why BVB moved decisively to sign him on loan this summer.
His press-resistant dribbling and vision proved crucial in breaking down Hoffenheim's defensive block late in the game, as his low cross was turned home for the winning goal.
How Did Ethan Nwaneri Fare On His Borussia Dortmund Debut?
Just days after he moved to Germany, Ethan Nwaneri was named among the substitutes as his club made the trip to the PreZero Arena to face Hoffenheim.
It was straight to action for the teenager, who was brought in as a replacement for Giannis Konstantelias, who joined the club this summer but has suffered a season-ending injury.
Nwaneri was unexpectedly called off the bench shortly after the half-hour mark in the first half, following an injury to defender Filippo Mane.
BVB coach Niko Kovac opted to reshuffle his tactics rather than make a like-for-like change, and the attacking midfielder found himself making his debut for the visitors.
The youngster, and indeed the whole Borussia Dortmund side, struggled in the first half, and it was no surprise that they went into the break trailing.
The second half was much better from Nwaneri and the team, with the youngster finding a bit more joy playing in the left half-space behind striker Serhou Guirassy.
| Ethan Nwaneri vs TSG Hoffenheim | Statistic |
| Minutes played | 58 |
| Touches | 27 |
| Accurate passes | 11/15 (73%) |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Defensive contributions | 3 |
The youngster played a key role in his side's comeback win, providing the square ball from which Albian Hajdari scored an own goal to make it 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in the 87th minute.
Niko Kovac Praises Nwaneri Following First Bundesliga Outing
Borussia Dortmund coach Nico Kovac sang the praises of Ethan Nwaneri before his debut, and the tune did not change after he played against TSG Hoffenheim.
The tactician pointed out that the Arsenal loanee arrived at the club with sufficient fitness to immediately contribute to the team and showed enough in training to earn his trust.
“Nwaneri is physically fit. It’s very important when a player arrives having only trained twice that one can place one’s trust in him. If he hadn’t been fit, I wouldn’t have brought him on. Then the risk for me would have been too great.”
He also explained Nwaneri's qualities that make him a fit for how he wants to play this season, pointing out that they signed the youngster for those qualities.
“He could solve problems on a man-for-man basis and radiate calmness on the ball. He had that little bit of luck [on the own goal], but he worked hard for it. We signed him because we’re convinced he has top qualities. He proved that today and we hope he’ll continue to prove it in the coming weeks,” he said (via One Football).
The youngster was playing in a new role and with new players, but managed to provide a decisive moment. He will get better in coming weeks as he improves his chemistry with his teammates.
