Arsenal prodigy Nwaneri shipped off to Marseille in loan move
The 18-year-old Gunners wonderkid heads to France in search of playing time after struggling for minutes in Arteta's high-flying Arsenal side this season.
Talented Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri has secured a temporary move away from North London, joining Olympique Marseille on loan until the end of the season with no purchase option included.
Limited opportunities at the Emirates
The 18-year-old midfielder has found himself on the outside looking in at Arsenal this term. Despite being tipped for greatness, Nwaneri has struggled for game time in Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing squad, making just 12 appearances across all competitions.
This represents a significant step back from the previous campaign where the teenager featured 37 times for the Gunners, notching up an impressive 9 goals and 2 assists. With Arsenal currently flying high at the top of the Premier League and pushing hard in the Champions League, opportunities for the young talent have been few and far between.
French connection
Marseille appears the perfect destination for Nwaneri to continue his development. The French giants, currently under the stewardship of Roberto De Zerbi, have high hopes for the English youngster.
In their official statement, Marseille expressed confidence that “under the tutorship of a manager like Roberto De Zerbi, the young Englishman should flourish and develop his skills to meet the expectations placed upon him.”
Arsenal’s statement was equally positive, wishing Nwaneri “all the best during his time at Marseille” while expressing hope of seeing him “develop his talent in one of Europe’s top leagues.”
Busy day at the Vélodrome
Nwaneri wasn’t the only new face through the door at Marseille, with the club also announcing the signing of Quinten Timber from Feyenoord in a deal worth approximately €5 million. The French side are clearly not mucking about in the January transfer window!
For Nwaneri, the move represents a massive opportunity to gain valuable first-team experience in a top European league. If he can find his shooting boots in France, Arsenal fans will be hoping he returns ready to make the step up at the Emirates next season. He’s proper talent, that’s for sure.