'The ultimate team player' - Arsenal icon Wilshere speaks glowingly about Annous after hat-trick for U18s

Arsenal legend Jack Wilshere was full of praise for versatile Nigerian forward Andre Annous after his hat-trick helped the Gunners secure a point in a 3-3 draw with Brighton & Hove in an U18 Premier League fixture at American Express Elite Football Performance Centre on Saturday.

The Seagulls were 2-0 up before the 34th-minute mark, but Annous halved the deficit in the 37th minute and equalized after intercepting Tate Ferdinand’s free-kick and lobbing Alfie Mansell from 35 yards to make it 2-2 three minutes before halftime.

With a composed finish, Annous completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute, only for Tyler Silsby to strike in the sixth minute of stoppage time to rescue a point for the home team.

Annous has had a brilliant start to the season, registering seven goal involvements (5 goals, 2 assists) in his first four matches in the U18 Premier League. 

Speaking post-match, Wilshere waxed lyrical about Annous, highlighting that the attacking all-rounder has showcased his ability as an ultimate team player. 

“He's outstanding. He's a definition in my opinion of the ultimate team player. He gives you everything, he presses, he makes unselfish runs, passes where he might be in a worse position,” Wilshere told Arsenal's official website.

"There was one in the first half where he ran through, probably could have taken it on his own but he tried to help his mate and set him up.

"And then when you work that hard and apply yourself not just in games but every day in training, around the environment, you get your reward.

"He's a great example for the players in my opinion because he doesn't always get it right and he needs to be clinical in certain moments. I am happy for him today."

Annous made his debut in the U18 Premier League in his final season as a schoolboy and has totaled eleven appearances in the division. 

After he was a non-playing substitute against League One side Leyton Orient in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy earlier this month, the Hale End Academy graduate will be aiming to make his competitive debut for Arsenal U21s in the coming weeks. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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