Super Eagles’ star and newkid on the block; Samuel ‘Samu’ Chukwueze has been lauded with plaudits by Arsenal legend, Laurean. Chukwueze has been in fine form this season for Villarreal as they struggle to retain their League status in the La Liga Santander.
The teenage Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze scored the Yellow Submarines’ only goal in a crucial win against Girona at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Sunday evening which lifted his team to the 15th position and safe from the relegation zone in the Spanish La Liga table and that performance caught the attention of Arsenal legend Laureano Bisan Etamé-Mayer.
Discussing the post-match analysis on La Liga TV after Sunday’s games in the Spanish top flight rounded off by Valencia’s 3-1 home win over Moses Simon’s Levante, the Africa Cup of Nations winner with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in 2000 praised the fantastic goal by the Nigerian.
“I will pick the goal scored by Samuel Chukwueze as my moment of the day (in reference to Sunday matches),” the Cameroonian enthused. For the fact that it was a massive game and such a goal from a 19-year-old. It was an important win, a massive three points for Villarreal, for their survival hopes.”
“Such calmness from the lad Chukwueze. He showed maturity, what a future for this lad,” the member of the Arsenal Invincibles went on. Villarreal had pace upfront and were much better than Girona especially in the second half,” Lauren who also doubles as match commentator for La Liga TV concluded.
The 7th minute strike was Chukwueze’s fifth league goal of the season albeit he has three more in other competitions for the first team. His strong performances in the Europa League has seen the Villarreal side get into the quarter-finals on the competition. He would need to step-up to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg against Valencia on Thursday.
Samu, as he is fondly called in Villareal is a quick, skilful winger and graceful runner with the ball at his feet. The teenager’s direct running, trickery and willingness to shoot with his favoured left foot have caught the eye and earned comparisons with Bayern winger Arjen Robben.
Similarly unafraid to assume responsibility, Chukwueze relies on his speed and quick feet to make something happen. “My friends started the whole Arjen Robben comparison because of my playing style and I consider him my first football hero. I know there’s still a lot for me to do to even come close to what he has achieved in football, so I’m not getting carried away.”
“At Villarreal the officials keep reminding me of another Nigerian – Ikechukwu Uche – who they regard as a legend at the club; they’ve told me to try to emulate his ways on and off the pitch. I still don’t feel all that important. I need to keep working hard so that the coach continues to believe and trust in me.”
Samuel Chukwueze would hope to finish the season on a high for his clubside so that he can be full of confidence when he joins up with the Super Eagles of Nigeria when they join other African teams to compete for the African Cup of Nations in Egypt this summer.