**Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that “every player has a role” to play after being asked whether Ethan Nwaneri could leave the Emirates during the January transfer window.**
The teenager didn’t even make the bench for the 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night, with the Gunners now possessing formidable squad depth after several players returned from [**injury**](https://goonernews.com/blog/arsenal-injury-news-expected-return-dates-rice-mosquera/).
Asked whether Nwaneri could be allowed out on loan this month in order to get more game time, Arteta replied:
“Every player is very important, every player has a role, that role can change throughout the season for different reasons, and everybody has to be ready to play.”
The Arsenal star does have plenty of suitors
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The 18-year-old is a player in high demand. Chelsea are said to be keeping close tabs on his situation, while Bournemouth have been mentioned as one of the other Premier League teams who are keen to snap him up.
Of course, some of these sides, including Chelsea, will be looking to secure Nwaneri’s services on a permanent basis, but there is no chance that the Gunners would sanction such a move at the moment.
The attacking midfielder only signed a new five-year contract back in August, so the club clearly feel his future lies at the Emirates.
What is Nwaneri’s stance?
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While there has been plenty of speculation about what might happen to him over the coming weeks, the player is not thought to be pushing to leave the club.
Clearly, Nwaneri won’t be happy with the number of minutes he is getting, and his omission for the Villa game would have been disappointing, but he is seemingly willing to wait for his chance. With games coming thick and fast, he will be looking to make an impression over the coming weeks.
[**Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here**](https://goonernews.com/blog/arsenal-first-team-squad/)