Image source: bbc.com
Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has joined Marseille on loan for the remainder of the season, with manager Mikel Arteta saying the 18-year-old needed more minutes to avoid stalling his development. Nwaneri made 12 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once in the Carabao Cup. He signed a new Arsenal contract in the summer running until 2030.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri heads to Marseille on loan for rest of season
Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has joined French club Marseille on loan for the remainder of the season. The 18-year-old has made 12 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions this season, starting four matches but none in the Premier League. He has scored once, finding the net in the Carabao Cup.
Nwaneri signed a new contract in the summer until 2030, but his route into the first team has been affected by Arsenal’s summer signings. The club brought in Noni Madueke for £48.5m and Eberechi Eze for £67m, moves that have limited Nwaneri’s opportunities. BBC Sport previously reported he was not expected to go on loan this season.
The prospect of playing in another league and country, while getting regular game time, prompted the England Under-21 international to make the move. “Talented players need to have minutes and Ethan in this case wasn’t having enough minutes,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. “The last thing I want to do is cut his development because he is such a talent.”
Arteta said Arsenal believed Marseille is the “right place” for Nwaneri, citing centre-back William Saliba’s positive loan there in the 2021-22 season. He also described Marseille coach Roberto de Zerbi as a “really courageous manager” who plays young talent. Marseille are currently third in Ligue 1, eight points behind leaders Paris St-Germain.
Nwaneri played mostly on the right wing last season and scored nine goals in 37 appearances in all competitions. This season, the source said Madueke is the first-choice back-up to Bukayo Saka, while Eze is the number 10 option to captain Martin Odegaard, leaving Nwaneri with fewer openings in Arsenal’s side.
