Image source: bbc.com
Marseille have agreed a deal to take Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri on loan for the rest of the season, offering the 18-year-old a chance of regular game time. Nwaneri, an England Under-21 international, has made 12 appearances in all competitions this season and started four matches. He signed a new contract until 2030 last summer but has found minutes limited after Arsenal’s recent signings.
Marseille set to take Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri on loan this season
Marseille have agreed a deal to sign Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri on loan for the rest of the season. BBC Sport had previously reported Nwaneri was not expected to leave on loan this season, with the original view from club and player that he would benefit from staying with a squad challenging for a title.
That position has changed, with the prospect of playing in another league and country while getting regular game time described as appealing to the 18-year-old. The England Under-21 international has made 12 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this season, starting four games but none in the Premier League, and scoring once in the Carabao Cup.
Nwaneri signed a new contract in the summer that runs until 2030, but his path into the first team has been affected by Arsenal’s recruitment. The club signed Noni Madueke for £48.5m and Eberechi Eze for £67m, leaving Nwaneri with increased competition in the areas he would normally feature.
Nwaneri’s expectations were raised by a run of regular minutes last season, though he was not surprised by the fight for game time at a club like Arsenal. The report said having two England internationals ahead of him has made minutes hard to come by, while Eze has also struggled for a starting spot recently, playing 23 minutes in Arsenal’s last six Premier League games and being an unused substitute in four of them.
Arsenal’s season has also increased the challenge for academy players, with the club seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, holding a 100% record in the Champions League and leading Chelsea after the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. The Gunners have made “win now” signings including Martin Zubimendi, Eze and striker Viktor Gyokeres, with Mikel Arteta preferring experienced options in key roles this season.
