Mikel Arteta has confirmed that teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri has left Arsenal on loan to join French club Olympique Marseille until the end of the season to get regular minutes.
Arteta handed Nwaneri his Premier League debut in September 2022 aged 15 years and 181 days, becoming the youngest player to achieve the feat.
The 18-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in the 2024-25 season, but has rarely featured this time around with more competition for attacking spots in the team.
The England U-21 international has now moved to France, where he is expected to play regularly, helping his development ahead of a return to England at the end of the season.
“The talented young players that we have need minutes, and Ethan wasn’t getting enough minutes”, Arteta said.
“The last thing we want to do is cut his development because he’s such a talent. He lives and breathes football. That’s his life.
“The first thing is excitement because you speak to the manager, he’s very keen on you, and you’re going to start a lot of games, and that’s all very good. But then you have to go: ‘Okay, pack your bags, here are the flight tickets to Marseille.’
Arsenal rejected several bids from clubs in the country to sign the youngster, before agreeing a deal with Marseille instead.
Nwaneri has made only six league appearances for the Gunners this season and has not featured in the match-day squad for their last four league games.
“And then there is the fear and the insecurity of getting out of a place that has been really comfortable for him [Nwaneri].
At the end you have to be thrown to the sharks in an incredible football atmosphere, and it’s going to make him so good”, Arteta added.
Nwaneri could make his debut for the club in Saturday’s crucial league clash against second-placed Lens, as a win would help Marseille close the gap on the top two.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
