Big things are obviously expected of Arsenal new boy Kelechi Nwakali.
The Nigeria U20 international signed on at the Emirates and has been given an iconic squad number for his debut season with the club.
The box-to-box midfielder will wear the Number 25 shirt made famous by legendary Gunners striker and fellow Nigerian Nwankwo Kanu.
Kanu it seems is a long-time idol of the 18-year-old who appears to have pressed the club to bestow the shirt number on him as part of the £3m deal which saw Arsene Wenger beat off Barcelona, Bayern, Chelsea and Man City to his signature.
“Arsenal have informed us that Kelechi has been handed the number 25 jersey. He was trying to get that number because of Kanu Nwankwo, so he’s happy they gave it to him," said ASJ Academy supremo Amajiriaku in an interview with
All Nigeria Soccer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGsEwMDtTsV/?taken-by=kelechinwakali
Nwakali, who has been compared to Patrick Vieira at his old club Diamond Academy, came to Arsenal's attention after winning the Adidas golden ball at the FIFA U17 World Cup last year.
It's an accolade that has been won in the past by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Toni Kroos and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Nwakali started off life as an attacking midfielder but now plays in a role more akin to that of another of his heroes Yaya Toure.
It looks like he will be taking the number 25 shirt off Carl Jenkinson after the young defender has been on loan at West Ham. Although he's currently out with a knee injury he picked up in January.
He's got big shoes to fill to top Kanu's Arsenal goal haul of 44 in 198 appearances.
