Nwaneri Bros on Fire: Little Bro Emerson Bags England U16 Call-Up While Big Bro Shines in France

Alright, mate, grab a pint because there's some proper exciting youth international news bubbling up from the England setup. Barry Lewtas, the gaffer who's just taken the reins of the Three Lions' Under-16s after a stellar stint at Liverpool, has named his 22-man squad for a sun-soaked training camp in Turkey. They're off to Antalya for three juicy friendlies: kicking off against Denmark on February 21st, then Spain on the 23rd, and wrapping up with France on the 26th. Perfect timing for these lads to shake off the winter blues and show what they've got.

The real headline-grabber? Arsenal's teenage sensation Emerson Nwaneri, the 15-year-old pocket rocket who's following in the oversized footsteps of his big brother Ethan. Yeah, you heard that right – Ethan's the one lighting up Ligue 1 on loan at Marseille (who, let's be fair, could use a bit of stability right now), but little Em's not messing about either. He's already dipped his toes into Arsenal's Under-21s action and bagged a goal in their recent Under-18 North London derby loss to Spurs. Talk about carrying the family name with pride – or should I say, Nwaneri-fying the pitch?

Emerson made his England U16 bow back in December, turning heads against the Netherlands at St George's Park. Arsenal fans are buzzing about this kid; he's versatile as they come. Primarily an attacking midfielder, but chuck him up top as a striker, out wide on the flank, or even at full-back if you're feeling adventurous. It's like having a Swiss Army knife in boots – handy for any tactical pickle Lewtas might find himself in.

And it's not just a solo act from the Emirates youth line. Emerson's squadmate is fellow Gunner Mishel Nduka, another 15-year-old hotshot who swapped Charlton for Arsenal last year. The squad's a proper who's who of Premier League academies: Chelsea dominate with four players, while Man City and Liverpool each chip in three. You've got two each from Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham (irony not lost after that derby mention), plus reps from West Ham, Brighton, Leicester, and Southampton. It's like a mini-Premier League All-Star game, but with fewer egos and more potential.

Now, let's tip our hats to big brother Ethan for context. At just 18, he's already climbed from U16 to U21 level for England since his debut in 2022. Penned a fresh deal with Arsenal last summer, then jetted off to Marseille in January for proper senior minutes. The Nwaneri family's basically England's next big export pipeline – if they keep this up, we'll be seeing them in the senior squad before we know it, chatting penalties with Harry Kane.

Lewtas himself is no slouch. Appointed in August 2025 after over a decade at Liverpool, where he bossed the Under-21s and lifted the FA Youth Cup with the Under-18s in 2018-19. He's got the pedigree to mould these youngsters into future stars, and this Turkey jaunt is his first big test at the helm. Expect fireworks – or at least some goals, given Emerson's knack for finding the net.

As reported by Chris Nee at FourFourTwo, this squad announcement's got everyone optimistic. In a world where youth development's fiercer than a tackle from Vinnie Jones, England's got a cracking group here. Keep an eye on the Nwaneris; they're not just brothers, they're the dynamic duo set to conquer the international stage. Who's buying the next round if Emerson scores a hat-trick out there? Cheers to the future!